Air Canada will charge passengers for pillows and blankets on its short-haul flights in an effort to offset the spiralling cost of fuel, the airline said on Thursday.

Air Canada described the move as a cost-saving measure. But a Canadian advocacy group said it was petty.

"It seems to me that the airlines are more than happy to look at different methods of extracting payment or heaping indignities on their passengers in order to save dollars," said Michael Janigan, executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Ottawa.

"Obviously any passenger would view charging for pillows and blankets as a pretty petty kind of expense for a dominant air carrier to implement."

The CAD$2 (USD$1.50) kit, consisting of an inflatable pillow and a lightweight blanket, will be on offer on domestic and US flights lasting 90 minutes or less. Passengers can keep the items.