Airports and airlines oppose Sunwing and WestJet merger

Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the operator of the airports serving the city of Montreal, fears that Sunwing Vacations’ presence at Montreal-Trudeau airport will diminish if WestJet acquires the airline.

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ADM, which operates the Trudeau and Mirabel airports, told Transport Canada that it is against the project. The organization sent a letter to the regulator signed by its vice-president of air operations and development, Stéphane Lapierre. In it, the operator argues that if this merger was approved it would undermine years of efforts to increase the number of connections at Trudeau Airport. It also adds that it fears Sunwing would move its operations to Pearson Airport, where WestJet has one of its hubs. However, the document does not propose any solution.

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«We do not oppose WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing. We are just concerned that it could affect the quality of service at Trudeau Airport,» Anne Marcotte, ADM’s public relations director, told La Presse.

Air Transat also voiced its concerns

Air Transat, Canada’s third-largest airline behind Air Canada and Westjet, added to ADM’s concerns. The company said WestJet’s purchase of Sunwing will reduce competition in the leisure travel market.

«This merger cannot be approved as currently drafted,» the Montreal-based airline said in a critique sent to authorities during the public hearing process conducted to authorize the purchase, accessed by La Presse. «The proposed merger would eliminate competition between two of the leading providers of vacation packages. It would also eliminate aggressive competition from Sunwing, which pushes down prices,» the company added.

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Transport Canada has until Dec. 5 to submit its report to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.