P.E.I. Provincial Government and the Charlottetown Airport Authority are very disappointed with Air Canada’s announcement to cancel its Toronto-Charlottetown fall and winter flights. Air Canada took this decision after the Provincial Government refused to comply with negotiation items which restricted competition and the ability to effectively service Prince Edward Island.
Since 1999, the Province and the Airport Authority have worked with Air Canada to continue and to improve air access according to demand. Unfortunately, Air Canada’s decision in February of 2005 to utilize Jazz carriers resulted in a downsize of carrier size with insufficient capacity for passengers and cargo. At that time, Government lobbied Air Canada for increased service to the Island and, when Air Canada did not respond, began negotiations with other willing airlines. Even in light of the collapse of JetsGo, Air Canada continued to use smaller planes and it was only after the announcement of West Jet as an additional carrier that Air Canada began to respond to earlier requests to the Provincial Government.
“We could not stand by and negotiate with just one airline that has continued to downgrade service and did not recognize the market demands,” said the Premier. “Travelers deserve better.” Local news stories have noted the on-going problems with the down-sized carrier presently used by Air Canada which has insufficient cargo space. To have travelers arrive without their luggage, golf clubs or sporting equipment reflects on the quality of their vacation and their overall impression of Prince Edward Island.
Air Canada will maintain their lucrative Montreal-Charlottetown and Halifax-Charlottetown flights. The Premier noted, “Air Canada has always enjoyed a strong market for the Montreal and Halifax connections and they have not indicated that there will be a change in either of these flights.”
The Premier, along with the Charlottetown Airport Authority, has worked for years to secure service that would allow business travelers, tourists, and the general traveling public to travel to and from Prince Edward Island in an efficient and economical manner. This is still the case. The decision to attract additional service was developed in concert with the Airport Authority in conjunction with the business and tourism groups on P.E.I.
Short-term guarantee offers provided to both West Jet and North West Airlines are not uncommon and, in fact, Air Canada was provided a similar offer in 2002 for their Montreal-Charlottetown flight. As it stands today, both West Jet and North West Airlines are performing strongly and, if the trend continues, revenue guarantees are not expected to be paid out to either company.
Air traffic in Charlottetown is growing and the Government is confident that year-round demand for air travel from our Province will ensure that the market will continue to be well served by the airline companies.