The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce is asking the federal competition regulator to investigate Air Canada’s decision to end its flights between Saskatoon and Calgary and between Regina and Calgary.

In a submission to the Competition Bureau, the business group says the decision by Air Canada leaves WestJet as the only airline offering direct service between Saskatchewan and Calgary.

The chamber alleges WestJet and Air Canada have engaged in anticompetitive behaviour through a strategy to reduce competition intensity on certain regional Canadian routes.

It says the routes from Saskatchewan are critical not just for travel to and from Calgary, but also for connecting flights from the key hub.

Air Canada says it rejects any allegations of anticompetitive conduct, noting that it continues to serve Saskatoon and Regina with daily flights to Vancouver and Toronto, and beginning on June 1 to Montreal.

WestJet also rejected the allegations and says it is committed to serving Saskatchewan.

The Competition Bureau confirmed that it received the chamber’s complaint, but said it is required to work confidentially and was unable to say if it would be investigating.

Regina-Sunwing

Meanwhile, Sunwing says it is cancelling many of its flights out of Regina for the rest of this winter.

However, the airline said in a statement sent to local media outlets that it will start flying to Puerto Vallarta again on Sundays, starting Feb. 4, and will still fly to Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Mazatlan on the Family Day weekend.

It says other customers may be able to transfer their Regina reservations to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, or other airports, pending availability, or they can cancel their southern vacations for a full refund.

The airline is apologizing to its customers, but says the cancellations were necessary due to “operational and business constraints.”

Sunwing had earlier announced that it was suspending all flights from the Regina and Saskatoon airports until early February due to extenuating circumstances. It says it plans to restore flights in Regina for the 2023-24 winter season.