By Skeena News Editorial Board
From the past month, our inbox has been overflowing with more than hundred emails, each one a searing testimony to a community trapped. From Terrace to Prince Rupert to Smithers, the message is clear: the cost of air travel is no longer a luxury, it has become an impossible barrier, a cruel tax on our ability to live, to work, and to be with our families.
We’ve heard from the student who can’t afford to fly home for the holidays, the senior who has missed crucial medical appointments, and the family who has had to choose between a plane ticket and a month’s worth of groceries. This isn’t just about money. It’s about a system that is isolating our region and breaking our spirit.
The Facts Behind the Feelings
The emotional toll is real, and the numbers behind it are an insult. A recent search by Skeena News revealed a return flight from Terrace to Vancouver costing $1,232.
This is not just a price, it’s a profound injustice. Consider this: for a fraction of that cost, you could fly roundtrip from Vancouver to Las Vegas for just $204. What’s more, flights to major cities in Europe and Asia can often be found for less than our simple one-hour flight to Vancouver.
This is a stark, undeniable truth, it is cheaper to leave the country than it is to leave our region.
Two Airlines, One Unfair Reality
For most routes in and out of the Skeena region, WestJet and Air Canada hold an effective monopoly. This lack of competition gives them free rein to set prices that are not based on fairness or operational costs, but on what the market can be forced to bear. When you have no other choice, you are left to the mercy of a system that prioritizes profit over people.
Why Are We Trapped?
The causes are well-known, but they are unforgivable when they keep our families apart:
- Federal fees and surcharges that add hundreds of dollars to each ticket.
- Federal rules that stifle competition by preventing foreign carriers from operating domestic routes.
- High operational costs for our regional airports, which the airlines then pass on to us.
- Market dominance by a few airlines, giving them no reason to be fair or reasonable.
We Are Demanding Leadership — From Everyone
This is not a political issue, it is a human one. We are calling on every single leader who has ever claimed to represent the people of Skeena to act.
This includes:
- Our sitting MP and MLA.
- All candidates who contested the last election from the Conservative, NDP, Liberal and other parties.
- The Mayors and Councils of Terrace, Prince Rupert, and Smithers.
We need them to be our advocates and demand action from Ottawa. We need them to set aside their political differences and stand as a united front against this crippling injustice. The community is watching, and we will remember who answered this call.
Our Demands for a Solution
From the Federal Government:
- Immediately review and reduce federal fees and surcharges for rural and remote airports.
- Create a dedicated rural air travel subsidy program for essential routes.
- Reform competition rules to allow more carriers to serve our region.
From the Cities of Terrace, Prince Rupert, and Town of Smithers:
- Form a regional coalition to lobby Ottawa with a united, powerful voice.
- Explore lowering local airport fees and offering incentives to attract new carriers.
From WestJet and Air Canada:
- Publicly justify the pricing structure for northern BC routes.
- Commit to transparent and fair pricing, and explore relief programs for residents.
The Next Step—Our Voice, United
Today, Skeena News is launching the #FairFaresSkeena petition to channel our collective frustration into a powerful demand for change.
Every signature is a new voice added to the choir of those who have already cried out. Every signature is a new story of a person who will no longer be grounded by this injustice.
Sign the petition now and make your voice heard: https://chng.it/bMM6hNppZF Join the conversation online with the hashtag #FairFaresSkeena.
Let’s stand together and fight to ensure that the next time someone from the Skeena region books a flight, the price doesn’t break their heart before they even take off.
