Switching the flight from Sudbury to Toronto Island to an Ottawa route aligns better with local travel needs and provides more options for connecting flights, according to Porter Airlines.
Discontinuing the Sudbury-to-Toronto-Island flight is aimed at meeting the needs of Greater Sudbury travelers. This is the message from both Porter Airlines and Greater Sudbury Airport as they prepare to start service to Ottawa on May 1.
Porter mentioned that changes in the market since the pandemic have prompted this shift, but they believe it also matches how people from Sudbury are traveling now.
“The market has shifted for the Sudbury-Toronto route since the pandemic, with less overall demand. We believe that more people are driving than in the past, given relatively short distances, and business travel has decreased,” Porter spokesperson Brad Cicero told Sudbury. com.
“Repositioning service to Ottawa provides non-stop access to the nation’s capital and a greater range of connecting flights across the country that isn’t available today.”
Cicero noted that travelers leaving from Sudbury will have connections to “at least” 10 different markets once this new flight begins, ranging from Vancouver, B. C., to St. John’s, Nfld., along with flights to London, U. K. through Air Transat.
Greater Sudbury Airport says airlines routinely evolve their routes to better fit travellers’ needs. Tyler Clarke / Sudbury. com
For its part, Greater Sudbury Airport sees this change positively for local passengers.
“We view this as a positive evolution in service,” said Christopher Pollesel, director of commercial development and passenger experience at the city’s airport.
“The new Ottawa route connects Sudbury to another major hub within Porter’s network, giving our passengers expanded one-stop access to destinations across Canada, the United States, sun destinations and everything in between.
“Adding connectivity through multiple gateways strengthens travel options and long-term sustainability for our market.”
Pollesel stated that data indicates about a third of those using the Sudbury-to-Toronto flight were ending their trips in Toronto while two-thirds were connecting elsewhere.
“For this reason, we are excited by Porter’s announcement as it will ultimately connect passengers from Sudbury to their growing hub in Ottawa and allow them to travel further onward within Porter’s expanding network,” he said. “This new service will continue to support both direct travel and onward connections, now through another key hub.”
Changes like this are typical in airline operations, Pollesel explained; airlines adjust routes based on what customers want.
“Ultimately, air service is a ‘use it or lose it’ service,” he said. “We are always actively engaged with our airline partners to advocate for sustainable, long-term service that meets the needs of our community and northeastern Ontario.
“We’re encouraged to see continued investment from Porter in our market and look forward to the launch of their new Ottawa service.”
Mark Gentili is the editor at Sudbury. com.
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