Small New York airport looks to draw Canadian passengers
Posted Jul 9, 2014 05:34:28 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — A small airport just one hour South of the city could be giving Ottawa International Airport some competition.
Ogdensburg, New York, a town of just over 11,000 people features a small airport with just one flight carrier, Cape Air, but are now looking to expand.
And with another viable flying option being just 100 kilometres from Ottawa, that could attract a number of Canadian passengers.
According to studies from the Conference Board of Canada, as many as five million Canadians travel South of the border each year to take advantage of cheaper airfare.
“Typically American Air carriers were able to offer flights at about 30% cheaper than Canadians could get flying out of Canadian airports,” says VP of Public Policy, David Stewart Patterson.
“There’s a range of factors behind that. Everything from the price of airline fuel, registration, how people pay for air traffic controllers and so on.”
Currently Ogdensburg’s carrier Cape Air only has six flights a day, three to Albany, and another three to Boston.
However the difference in price is what makes it an attractive option; an average flight from Ogdensburg to Boston is just $79.00.
Now the airport is planning is awaiting FAA approval for a 1,200-foot runway extension to allow for large jet planes, and hope to bring on another low-cost air carrier, Allegiant, to offer more destinations.
The agreement with Allegiant hopes to bring as many as 40,000 more passengers a year and could pose a possible threat to business for the Ottawa International Airport in the future.
“If the fare differences get too big, if the options that are available in nearby American airports become more attractive… there will be more pressure on Canadian airports and on Canadian air carriers to make their prices more attractive.”
Ogdensburg’s airport also offers free parking on site.
