The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that last month, WestJet came out strongly against the Finance Department's plan to lend up to $150-million to carriers, money meant to offset soaring jet fuel costs. The Globe's Andrew Willis writes that WestJet did more than just turn down the loan. It challenged Ottawa's whole approach to the sector. WestJet issued a press release urging the government "to abandon the cycle of corporate charity and focus on long-term stability by fixing the overdue foundational cost issues that hold our entire industry back." WestJet is making the right call. The federal government's objective in providing the liquidity facility was to ensure air travel remains affordable, a laudable goal, and keep airlines flying through the turbulence of the Iran war. There are better ways to achieve these objectives. In April, when oil prices jumped, Ottawa gave the entire sector a boost by cutting taxes on aviation fuel by four cents a litre, part of a broad program that trimmed gasoline levies by 10 cents and the lowered the cost of diesel by four cents. That's sensible policy, as it treats everyone equally. The loan program favours Transat and Porter, whose passengers are more price-sensitive.