Porter's direct flights to Ottawa this winter will help Charlottetown airport set record, says CEO
Shane Ross | CBC News | Posted: October 23, 2023 9:56 PM | Last Updated: October 23, 2023
Number of passengers from June to September up 7.2% from same period last year
The Charlottetown Airport will see an increase in seat capacity this winter — including a new direct flight to Ottawa — after handling a record number of passengers during the 2023 summer season.
From June to September, 220,489 passengers went through the P.E.I. capital city's terminal, representing a 7.2 per cent increase over the same period in 2022, according to the Charlottetown Airport Authority.
- Get the news you need without restrictions. Download our free CBC News App.
In fact, CEO Doug Newson said the airport is on track to have its busiest year yet.
"There was a lot of pent-up demand for air travel last summer and we've been able to add another carrier this summer," he told CBC News: Compass on Monday. "It's clear that people are ready to travel, especially on the leisure side."
Air Canada, Westjet, Flair, Swoop and Porter all offered service in and out of Charlottetown this summer.
The momentum will continue into the coming months, despite a decrease in the number of carriers.
Swoop will no longer operate an independent airline, and Flair has decided to redirect planes to southern markets. Still, Newson said there will still be more seats on offer because Air Canada is using larger aircraft and Porter is continuing service out of Charlottetown for the first time during a winter season.
"We fully expect it to be a record winter unless something changes," he said, adding: "In this business, we've learned over the last three or four years that things can change."
Winter flights to Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa
Beginning at the end of October, Air Canada will offer two daily flights to Toronto and one to Montreal. Porter will offer a daily direct flight to Ottawa.
The airport is continuing with the expansion of its terminal to accommodate the growth. Newson said he expects it to be complete by 2027.
"When it's all said and done, it'll be a totally different airport and a different experience for people. And it's all based on projections for passenger traffic over the next 20 to 30 years," he said.