Air fare statistics

In 2000, the average domestic air fare (all types) paid by passengers was a record $224, up 6.8% from the previous record of $209 in 1999. This was the fourth consecutive annual increase in the domestic sector.

The average international air fare was $359 in 2000, down 3.1% from 1999 and 6.2% below the record average international fare of $382 in 1994. This was the first annual decrease in the international sector in the past four years.

In 2000, a record 90.3% of passengers on domestic scheduled services flew on discount fares, up 2.0 percentage points from 88.3% in 1999.

On international scheduled services, a record 94.6% of passengers travelled on discount fares, up 4.5 percentage points from 90.1% in 1999.

Preliminary estimates are now available for the four quarters of 2000 and for 2000 as a whole. Information on the types of fares used by passengers is based on data from seven Canadian Level I air carriers (AirBC, Air Canada, Air Transat, Canada 3000, Canadian Airlines Ltd., Canadian Regional [1998] Ltd. and WestJet) and two Level II air carriers (Air Nova and Air Ontario). Average domestic air fares for 10 major Canadian cities are available on CANSIM.

Available on CANSIM: tables 401-0003 and 401-0004.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2708.

The fare basis data appear in the Aviation: Service Bulletin, Vol. 36, no. 4 (51-004-XIB, $9), which is now available. Additional annual data will be included in the revised issue of the publication Canadian Civil Aviation, 2000, (51-206-XIB, $31). This product will soon be available.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Yukman Cheung (613-951-0365; yukman.cheung@statcan.gc.ca) or Lisa Di Piétro (613-951-0146; lisa.dipietro@statcan.gc.ca), Transportation Division.