Is it so important to have an Air Canada? Beyond the idea of the word Canada cruising the wild blue yonder at an altitude of 39,000 feet and imprinted on tiny bags of over-salted nuts, do we need to protect the airline that right now rules our skies?

It seems most of us don’t think so. In a Transport Canada survey conducted this year, 55 per cent of those responding said they believed opening up the air industry to U.S.-based airlines is such a good idea, it doesn’t matter if it means the end of Air Canada and other Canadian airlines.

Higher numbers indicated a willingness to open up Canadian skies to foreign competitors — 84 per cent will accept Canadian and American airlines flying in Canada if it means more convenient flights in North America. Seventy-one per cent will accept U.S.-based airlines in Canada, without equal access for Canadian planes in the U.S., if it means lower fares.

So it seems most people just want to get where they want to go, safely, on time and at a fair price; if so many are so keen for American services, they must not be getting what they want now.

Already in bed with U.S.

Air Canada is already in bed with American flyboys. It shares bookings and flights with United Airlines. Trouble is, what with tough times and reduced travel since last September 11, United Airlines said this week it might file for bankruptcy protection, which would cause Air Canada trouble.

Air Canada got rid of competition from Canadian Airlines International a few years ago by taking it over. Then it had to ask for 180 days grace period to get its act together and now it seems nobody’s in love with Air Canada anymore.

Anyway, it seems that the golden age of flight is over. People do it only when they have to. Nobody dresses up any more or gets fancy food.

More importantly, people just don’t feel safe, and won’t have reason to for a while: also this week, the Air Line Pilots Association warned that more airliner attacks by terrorists are likely, because terrorists tend to repeat successes. The association also said airport security systems remain vulnerable. It’s just no fun anymore.

Air Canada is a virtual monopoly and it was awarded that privilege. It’s supposed to keep prices steady and not undercut discount or regional airlines, but controlling its monopoly through regulation instead of competition hasn’t worked out. On some routes in and out of smaller centres, it’s now more difficult to get service. And Air Canada has created its own discount wings and now plays a three-faces-of-Eve game with itself by flying the Tango and Jazz as discount wings of its own airline, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Air Canada was awarded the right to be free from foreign competition — but in exchange for that, it is obliged to keep prices at their current level and not sell its seats below cost, so as to undersell discount and regional airlines.

The idea is to control the monopoly through regulation, not competition.

Worse than foreign carriers

But when four out of ten frequent flyers say Air Canada is worse than other international airlines, it may be time to see what other airlines have to offer Canadians who have some place to go, and don’t want to pay through the nose to do it.

Even if it means inviting American carriers into our skies.