Supply and demand driving higher than normal air travel prices

Some of the highest prices are between Vancouver and Kelowna, and Vancouver and Kamloops, in some cases being more than double normal.

According to those in the industry, the prices are being driven by the supply and demand airlines are currently seeing, only made worse by the capacity crunch created by COVID-19.

“It’s a big contrast to last year where we had geared up in the hopes that everything would take off, but it was the opposite,” said Michael Claeren, Head of Commercial, and Director for Central Mountain Air (CMA).

Claeren said last year because of a last-minute COVID-19 wave the airline was left with many empty seats, this year is the opposite problem with a roster filled with sold-out flights.

Early on in the pandemic, thousands of airline workers and pilots were let go, and getting them back was already happening although that was supposed to be a slow and steady increase.

Central Mountain Air, and others have been adding flights between the interior and the mainland, although the manpower to do so has been a major obstacle.

Many expect the industry to return back closer to normal following the holidays, although given the highway situation anything is possible.

by Caden Fanshaw

Supply and demand driving higher than normal air travel prices

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