Air North may replicate Air Canada’s fee

Air North is not currently adopting Air Canada's new policy of charging $25 to passengers checking in a second bag.

Air North is not currently adopting Air Canada’s new policy of charging $25 to passengers checking in a second bag.

However, the Yukon’s airline may soon do so to offset soaring fuel prices, says Air North president Joe Sparling.

“I expect we will be,“ Sparling told the Star Thursday. “It’s a logical approach.“

Sparling said Air North has always had a “mechanism for dealing with increased fuel prices” in the form of a fuel surcharge. The airline will likely be looking at its excessive baggage allowance as fuel prices continue to rise, he said.

Sparling explained that airlines face a lot of pressure to be environmentally aware, so it makes sense to encourage passengers to pack less by imposing a tariff.

“We may offer a discount for people with just one piece (of baggage),“ said Sparling.

Air Canada announced last Friday that, effective May 15, for travel on or after July 15, passengers will be charged a $25-service fee for a second bag.

“In an environment of record-high and unrelenting fuel costs, it is more critical than ever that the airline reviews its product offering to ensure it can continue to offer everyday low fares,“ Duncan Dee, the the airline’s executive vice-president, customer experience and chief administrative officer, said in a statement.

“This policy change is part of an ongoing review of our activities that allow us to keep pace with current industry standards and economic realities, while remaining competitive with our main North American competitors,“ the release continues.

The change in checked bag policy will not apply to customers purchasing Latitude and Executive Class tickets, or to Air Canada Elite, Super Elite, Prestige, nor Star Alliance Gold and Silver members when purchasing Tango and Tango Plus fares.

Baggage allowance for travel to and from countries other than Canada and the United States will also remain unchanged.

“The vast majority of travellers who come to the Yukon are well-heeled, so I don’t know how they would be impacted by a $25-fee,“ Pierre Germain, director of tourism for the Yukon government, said in an interview Wednesday.

“(Air Canada) is a big partner for us. We’ll just have to wait and see what the consumer reaction is.“