OTTAWA — The Federal Court of Canada has ordered a second senior employee at WestJet Airlines Ltd. to testify under oath, the latest development in a predatory pricing investigation into WestJet and its budget subsidiary, Swoop, by Canada’s competition watchdog. Chief Justice Paul Crampton has ordered WestJet corporate planning manager Michael Claeren to be examined by Canada’s Commissioner of Competition, citing Claeren’s former role as senior leader of revenue and pricing at Swoop. He is set to appear next month alongside WestJet vice-president John Weatherill, who the Federal Court previously ordered to come before a presiding officer to explain the airline’s tactics. Interim competition commissioner Matthew Boswell states in court filings that WestJet’s alleged predatory pricing — when a company offers services below break-even costs to hobble a competitor — constitutes an abuse of its dominant position. On the Hamilton route, Swoop advertised all-inclusive fares for as low as $69 starting last June.

Source: thestar April 29, 2019 15:18 UTC