ldoto
June 20th, 2005, 06:41 AM
:sleepy: More flights are proving a boost for London airport.
Boosted by more flights, London International Airport is moving to put a lock on the regional market, the airport's chief executive says.
"Our vision is to become the hub of aviation in southwestern Ontario," says Steve Baker.
He said surveys based on the postal codes of ticket buyers show the number of passengers from outside London has soared from 10 per cent to 55 per cent in the past five years.
The airport's recent $19-million renovation and the popular winter charter flights to vacation destinations are some of reasons the airport is gaining ground, he said.
Direct flights to the Mexican resort city of Cancun will return next winter and Hualtulco, a new Mexican destination, will be added.
Combined with existing flights to Veradero and Holguin in Cuba and Puerto Plata and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, the winter charter flights will climb to about 12 each week.
Cathy Cryderman, owner of Robert Q Travel in Byron, said the additional Mexican charter flights were a "smart decision." But she said prices still have to be competitive to persuade passengers to fly from home.
"As much as people complain they want a direct flight out of London, they will still go to Toronto or Detroit if its $50 bucks cheaper," said Cryderman.
This week London Airport officials learned they will gain two additional WestJet flights to Calgary-Vancouver after the discount airline decided to pull out of Windsor effective Oct. 30.
WestJet has been flying out of Windsor for two years, but a company official said volumes outside the summer months were low and the service was not profitable.
Baker said London's location gave it the edge in picking up the flights.
"Windsor has a big disadvantage in being so close to Detroit Metro," he said.
Also this week another rival airport, John C. Munro airport in Hamilton, suffered a setback when CanJet announced it was pulling out on July 18.
The Halifax-based airline stepped in to fill some of the gap at Hamilton Airport after WestJet moved its eastern hub to Toronto.
Hamilton Airport was chosen as WestJet's eastern hub in 2000, beating out a bid from London.
But the Calgary-based airline shifted most of its eastern operations to Toronto's Pearson Airport in April last year and plans for a major expansion at Hamilton were shelved.
Copyright © The London Free Press
Boosted by more flights, London International Airport is moving to put a lock on the regional market, the airport's chief executive says.
"Our vision is to become the hub of aviation in southwestern Ontario," says Steve Baker.
He said surveys based on the postal codes of ticket buyers show the number of passengers from outside London has soared from 10 per cent to 55 per cent in the past five years.
The airport's recent $19-million renovation and the popular winter charter flights to vacation destinations are some of reasons the airport is gaining ground, he said.
Direct flights to the Mexican resort city of Cancun will return next winter and Hualtulco, a new Mexican destination, will be added.
Combined with existing flights to Veradero and Holguin in Cuba and Puerto Plata and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, the winter charter flights will climb to about 12 each week.
Cathy Cryderman, owner of Robert Q Travel in Byron, said the additional Mexican charter flights were a "smart decision." But she said prices still have to be competitive to persuade passengers to fly from home.
"As much as people complain they want a direct flight out of London, they will still go to Toronto or Detroit if its $50 bucks cheaper," said Cryderman.
This week London Airport officials learned they will gain two additional WestJet flights to Calgary-Vancouver after the discount airline decided to pull out of Windsor effective Oct. 30.
WestJet has been flying out of Windsor for two years, but a company official said volumes outside the summer months were low and the service was not profitable.
Baker said London's location gave it the edge in picking up the flights.
"Windsor has a big disadvantage in being so close to Detroit Metro," he said.
Also this week another rival airport, John C. Munro airport in Hamilton, suffered a setback when CanJet announced it was pulling out on July 18.
The Halifax-based airline stepped in to fill some of the gap at Hamilton Airport after WestJet moved its eastern hub to Toronto.
Hamilton Airport was chosen as WestJet's eastern hub in 2000, beating out a bid from London.
But the Calgary-based airline shifted most of its eastern operations to Toronto's Pearson Airport in April last year and plans for a major expansion at Hamilton were shelved.
Copyright © The London Free Press