Canada is home to some of the priciest airfares in the world. Airline tickets for comparable distances are considerably more expensive in Canada than in the United States, Europe, Asia, or Australia. Although it is widely known that a substantial portion of these exorbitant costs is due to government taxes, the ultimate price is often driven up by additional fees for baggage, seat selection, and other extras.

Nevertheless, the emergence of low-cost airlines in recent years has introduced more affordable options for travelers. The team at TradingPedia has undertaken an investigation to determine whether these budget flights are genuinely less expensive, or if travelers wind up paying the same amount after accounting for additional fees like baggage charges and other extras.

Additional charges may be applied on top of the base airfare price, depending on factors such as the airline, the chosen class of service, the itinerary, and the date of travel.

A significant portion of the airfare comprises various government taxes and surcharges, such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), the Air Travelers Security Charge, and the Airport Improvement Fee for departing passengers. Additionally, a fuel surcharge, an NAV Canada surcharge, and other fees may be added to the base fare price. The total taxes and surcharges could range from 15% to 40% of the airfare, depending on the province and airport.

Read the rest of the findings here.