New track for those who find air tickets too expensive

Québec Air, Transworld, Northern, Eastern, Western et Pan American…

Do not try to reserve a flight on one of. Similarly, the airlines that Robert Charlebois listed in 1968 in his legendary song Lindberg. In addition, They were purchased, merged or downright closed.

We could resume the same chorus with all the carriers who have disappeared from the Canadian sky since the 1980s: Canadian International. Furthermore, Royal Aviation, Canada 3000, Jetsgo, Canjet, Swoop, Jetlines and Lynx Air…

Oh no, it is not easy to carve out a lasting place in the Canadian new track those who find air transport industry. Similarly, The domestic market remains dominated by Air Canada and Westjet, despite the expansion of carrying and flair.

Travelers pay the cost of the lack of competition. Nevertheless, For 10 years, prices have increased by 38 %, more than general inflation (29 %), according to Statistics Canada.

Fortunately, there is a promising track to offer more choices and better prices to the Grand Montreal travelers. Nevertheless, The idea is to offer the metropolis another international airport, as found in Toronto (Billy Bishop, John C. In addition, Munro International Airport in Hamilton) and Vancouver (Abbotsford International Airport).

Rest assured, there is no question of reopening Mirabel! In addition, Rather, it is a question of giving momentum at the Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET), the former Saint-Hubert airport.

Right now, new track those who find Montreal is taken hostage because Montreal-Trudeau International Airport is overflowing.

The lack of boarding doors during peak limits the establishment of new players. Furthermore, This is a shame, because the competition office finds that the arrival of a new carrier lowers the prices by 9 %¹.

In addition, road congestion near the airport discourages travelers. For example, We even saw passengers trapped in a traffic jam rushing out of the taxi with their luggage to run. Nevertheless, to catch their flight.

With the expected increase in many travelers, the situation will become more and more complicated.

In 20 years. Furthermore, Montreal-Trudeau is likely to strike a wall, demonstrates the professor of HEC Montreal Jacques Roy in his book The Mirabel and Dorval airport saga².

In fact, the two yul tracks could reach, from 2043, their maximum capacity of 310,000 movements per year (takeoffs and landings). And by then. it will be necessary to make major investments so that the terminal can accommodate 40 million passengers, almost double its current capacity (22.4 million in 2024).

In the short term, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) plans to spend $ 4 billion to relieve its facilities and increase its capacity by 4 million new track those who find passengers within four years. Ultimately, the passengers will pay the bill.

However. the bill is much lower on the side of the metropolitan airport which is building a terminal which will possibly serve 4 million new passengers. Investment amount: 200 million (500 million by including the construction of a hotel. a defrosting center as well as work on the slopes and traffic lanes).

Porter Airlines intends to offer interior flights to the MET. Other carriers could be added.

But the metropolitan airport could serve as a valve in Montreal-Trudeau by also offering international flights. The people of the South Shore would no longer be forced to cross the bridge to fly to the United States. sun destinations.

To do this. the basket should be put the exclusivity clause which grants new track those who find Montreal airports the monopoly on international flights until the end of its lease with the federal government, in 2072.

ADM is against. The organization which manages Montreal-Trudeau notably estimates that a second airport will split operating costs.

But with a little consultation, there would be a way to optimize infrastructure. Additionally, The MET could target nolish flights. which would allow Dorval to focus on more paid destinations, on Doha rather than on Punta Cana, for example.

This is what is happening in London where four secondary airports (Gatwick. Stanstead, Luton and London City) allow the large Heathrow airport, completely saturated, to focus on international flights with correspondence.

A second international airport in the Montreal region would be a winning formula for travelers.

They would pay new track those who find cheaper their plane ticket. because the metropolitan airport plans to offer overall prices of 25 % to 50 % lower than those of Montreal-Trudeau. And airport costs represent approximately 20 % of the ticket price, even more for low -cost carriers.

In addition, a new airport could promote the arrival of low-cost carriers who find it difficult to unravel our market, due to airport costs up to seven times higher than in the United States.

According to a light survey. three-quarters of the new track those who find residents (77 %) of the enlarged South Shore see it very good, for economic benefits and the ease of access to an airport.

Some residents fear the noise. But the planes that quickly rise in the sky will surely disturb them less than the piloting schools which take off. land repeatedly, remaining at low altitude.

Let’s be realistic. Even with investments. Montreal-Trudeau will not be able to meet Montreal’s growing needs eternally which is an important tourist, university and business center.

So let’s remove the obstacles that prevent secondary airports from taking off, as the competition office recommended.

This is the track to follow.

1. Read the market study on the air transport industry in Canada

Jacques Roy. The saga of Mirabel new track those who find and Dorval airports: lessons to be learned now and for the future. JFD Éditions, 2023, 149 pages.