Vancouver’s domestic airfares were highest in the country in 2010’s first quarter, as the city hosted the Olympics, according to Statistics Canada data released yesterday.
The average domestic airfare from Vancouver climbed 10% to hit $199.30 last winter, edging out Toronto for the city with the most expensive average domestic flight cost.
Nationally, the average domestic flight cost rose 1.5% to $171.40 from $168.90 the year prior. That jump reversed a trend of quarterly year-over-year cost decreases that started in 2008’s fourth quarter.
Besides Vancouver’s increase in average domestic fare, Calgary, Montreal, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg also saw increases year-over-year. Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal also had average domestic airfares above the national average.
Nationally, the average domestic and international airfare was $235.50, up 1.2% from 2009’s first quarter. The average international fare was $315.40, down 0.7% year-over- year, and continuing a downward trend in prices that started in 2009’s first quarter.