According to a report by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), Ottawa’s proposal to increase air travel security fees by 33 percent will result in an additional cost of more than a quarter billion dollars for passengers next year. The federal government’s Budget 2023 proposed to increase the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC) by 32.85 percent, which means Canadian air passengers will see an increase in the flat fee charged at the time of ticket purchase. The PBO report estimates that a round trip domestic flight will increase from around $15 to $20, a U.S. flight from $13 to $17, and an international flight from $26 to $34. The higher fees are expected to generate an additional $264 million in fiscal year 2024–25, which is on top of revenues generated pre-pandemic. The fee hike is intended to improve the service level of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, “improve screening wait times, and strengthen security measures at airports.”