Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Douglas McCrea. I'm the president of Central Mountain Air. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

Central Mountain Air is located in northern British Columbia. For reference, we're considered a small airline as categorized by the air passenger protection regulations. At Central Mountain Air our company purpose and values include providing a safe, affordable and seamless travel experience for all of the clients and communities we serve.

Next I'll simply mention some points for consideration from our perspective that may contribute to reducing the cost of air travel in our region as well as improving air service in Canada. We feel that additional structured assistance for rural and remote communities is required to support air development and future operations. Construction of hard-surface runways from current gravel surfaces, and de-icing equipment availability are becoming standard items for consistent day-to-day operations. On the national front, we feel that Canada can support and advance the development of sustainable aviation fuels and infrastructure.

Policy and regulation dictate the way air carriers operate, and one size does not fit all. Baggage security regulations, cargo security, fatigue during duty, air passenger protection and CTA charges need regular review and, where possible, change for continuous improvement.

In addition to the already high cost of operation, Canadian air carriers face a myriad of external taxes, visual and buried fees, including airport rent, AIFs, PFCs, TSCs, GDS and Nav Canada fees and single-supplier de-icing fees, to name a few. Again, a review and rejig are required.

Interline agreements allow a passenger to travel on multiple airlines on one travel itinerary instead of two or more. It simply allows a reduction with no duplication of fees and the ability to through-check luggage to a passenger's final destination. A more open interlining architecture amongst large and small carriers should be advanced, allowing fair pricing strategies, reduced airport fees and a more seamless travel experience for the traveller.

In closing, despite its great size, Canada is one of the world's most sparsely populated countries. Air operations, we feel, are essential. Aside from the large mainline carriers, small carriers are able to contribute towards improved air services and fair pricing for Canadians. It's certainly not limited to them, but the points I mentioned previously currently add to the incremental cost for the air traveller. The aviation industry requires financial and regulatory reform to set it on a new course for success.