BNN Bloomberg · Oct 30, 2026 · 7 min
With Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet
Photo via theglobeandmail.com
Canada ranks 105th of 119 countries on the cost of air travel. Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of WestJet, told Lindsay Biscaia on BNN Bloomberg that the fees, rules and fuel bills behind that ranking now leave airlines no choice but to raise fares.
Fuel prices have doubled since the Iran war began, and WestJet has almost no hedges left to soften the blow. Alexis also said some of his competitors are not paying their own way.
"There's one airline that's growing at 25% year-over-year because the taxpayer pays the bill." — Alexis von Hoensbroech
Alexis runs an airline that, like most North American carriers, now pays the full market price for fuel. He used the interview to press WestJet's case for a national aviation strategy and to explain why an IPO is on hold.
The full segment is covered here so you can skip it.
Here are the 6 takeaways that matter.
Key Takeaways
Canada ranks 105th of 119 countries on air travel cost competitiveness
Airport improvement fees often run $40 in Canada against $4.50 in the US
Fuel prices have doubled since the Iran war, lifting airline costs by 25%
A government loan that is not repaid becomes a subsidy, in Alexis's view
WestJet's fuel hedging is no longer material, so it is fully exposed to prices
Capacity is down only low to mid single digits, but higher fuel prices would force deeper cuts
A WestJet IPO is not imminent while airline stocks are depressed
1. Canada's Cost Problem
Alexis called Canada "one of the most expensive countries in the world to operate an airline" and pressed WestJet's call for a national aviation strategy. He pointed to Canada's rank of 105th of 119 countries on air travel cost competitiveness.
Canadian airport improvement fees are close to nine times the US level
"Airport improvement fees $40 often in Canada, $4.50 in the US." — Alexis von Hoensbroech
Both figures are Alexis's own comparison for a typical fee in each country. On that one line, a passenger leaving a Canadian airport pays close to nine times what a US passenger pays.
