I’m in Europe shopping inexpensive airline options. It reminds me how bad we have it in Canada — WestJet and Air Canada being almost the same, equally bad. There’s no competition.

Economist:

Air fares are higher per seat mile in America than in Europe. …

Airlines in North America posted a profit of $22.40 per passenger last year; in Europe the figure was $7.84. …

Only one operator based in America can be found in the world’s 30 best carriers, as rated by Skytrax, an aviation website, compared with nine from Europe. …

This happy combination of low fares and reasonable service has a simple explanation: competition. American policymakers have presided over a wave of mergers in the past few years. The biggest four carriers in America between them now control 80% of the market, compared with just 48% a decade ago. …

A lack of competition explains the flaws in American aviation

related:

America’s woeful image among travellers is self-perpetuating