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Airlines Slash Flights as Jet Fuel Costs Surge, Squeezing Travellers and Markets

  Airlines Slash Flights as Jet Fuel Costs Surge Canadian travellers are facing fewer flight options and higher fares as jet fuel prices spike to multi‑year highs , forcing Air Canada and Air Transat to cut capacity across key routes. The surge in fuel costs is tied directly to the ongoing Iran conflict , which has disrupted global oil flows and pushed energy markets into another period of volatility. Air Transat is reducing service to Europe and the Caribbean, while Air Canada is suspending several regional and international routes it now considers unprofitable. For consumers, this means higher ticket prices, more crowded flights, and fewer choices heading into the summer travel season . Impact on the Economy and Inflation Airlines passing fuel costs to passengers adds fresh pressure to Canada’s already‑stubborn inflation outlook. Travel inflation — which had been easing — is now expected to rise again, complicating the Bank of Canada’s path toward rate cuts. Higher travel costs a...
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U.S. Urges Canada to Collaborate on Curbing Imports of Forced-Labour Goods from China

 

The U.S. State Department’s top human rights official, Uzra Zeya, has called for Canadian cooperation in addressing the importation of goods made from forced Uyghur and Tibetan labor in China. Zeya emphasized the need for joint efforts to combat this pressing issue.

Key Points:

  1. Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: The U.S. has taken a strong stance against forced labor by passing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This law presumes that any goods from China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang are made using coerced labor of Muslim Uyghurs. Importers must demonstrate that products are not produced under forced servitude, or shipments from the region are blocked.

  2. Canada’s Commitment: Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada pledged to bar imports manufactured with forced labor. However, as of December 2023, Ottawa had not halted any shipments of such goods entering the country since the agreement took effect in July 2020.

  3. Collaboration and Accountability: Zeya highlighted the importance of collaboration between the U.S. and Canada to prevent forced-labor products from entering North America. She expressed readiness to share experiences and best practices to tackle this issue effectively.

  4. Global Impact: Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley raised concerns that Chinese companies have redirected goods made in Xinjiang to Canada and Europe following the U.S. ban. The Global Slavery Index estimates that over $18.5 billion worth of goods imported annually into Canada are at risk of being produced with forced labor.

As the international community grapples with this human rights challenge, joint efforts between the U.S. and Canada can play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of supply chains and protecting vulnerable workers.



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