Quote:
Originally Posted by urban_planner
They really just need to start calling Toronto-Hamilton international Airport. Similar to London Gatwick or even Hamilton-Niagara International Airport. It's likely the only reason Play is successful as that's os how the advertise it.
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They need to actually make it attractive for airlines.
For Flair, both Waterloo and Toronto were cheaper to run out of than Hamilton for operations due to those airports trying to find creative ways to make it work (discounts for number of flights, discounts for off timings, bad gates etc).
Hamilton has been poorly run for 20 years. I know when I was starting off in this field WestJet was moving from Hamilton to Toronto and everyone kept saying Toronto was the most expensive airport to fly for airlines. While at the same time Pearson made it cheaper for Westjet to fly from Pearson than Hamilton.
City and Airport should be focused on a few things:
- Figuring out ways to get rid of the AIF.
-Pushing government to get rid of GST on Us flights (only country where we pay GST on flights)
-Remove airport rents
-Work with business community to talk to airlines for certain direct daily service (Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg).
-Work with Niagara so some of the conference people flow through Hamilton instead of Toronto.
-Actually figure out a way to be low cost. Its not for airlines or passengers.
There is no incentive for airlines to use Hamilton. I remember in 2010 I was at a conference at the CFO of Hamilton airport kept saying Hamilton will be the second GTA airport. That is dead (if it ever existed). There is a 0% chance that will ever happen. People need to stop saying it.
Hamilton needs to focus on the local market which is still 1 Million people. Connect to all major hubs in Canada and the leisure areas this market goes to.