nlp
May 14, 02, 12:05 pm
Montreal is to end passenger flights at the city's loss making Mirabel Airport within two years and convert it to an all-cargo operation.
The airport operating company, Aeroports de Montreal, broke the news at its annual meeting saying that the Canadian city has neither the population nor the traffic to support two big passenger airports.
Airlines currently using Mirabel will have their passenger flights transferred to Dorval Airport, which is closer to the city.
ADM President James Cherry told the meeting: "By far the biggest contributor to the losses we are suffering, more than two thirds go away the day we transfer passenger flights from Mirabel to Dorval.
Mirabel is the newer of Montreal's two airports, opened in 1975 at a cost of CAD$500 million (USD$319.6 million). Located around 45 miles north of the city, it has suffered from poor transport links with no direct rail service or major highway.
The leading Canadian carrier at Mirabel, Air Transat, says it is already in discussions with ADM over transferring its flights to Dorval.
"Mirabel airport has suited our needs for 15 years and we have major facilities there, including Air Transat's head office and our main maintenance center," said Denis Jacob, Senior Vice-President, Air Transport. "We are confident that on-going discussions will lead to an agreement on the terms and conditions for moving our operations to Dorval."
Air Transat flies about 900,000 passengers a year in and out of Mirabel.
The airport operating company, Aeroports de Montreal, broke the news at its annual meeting saying that the Canadian city has neither the population nor the traffic to support two big passenger airports.
Airlines currently using Mirabel will have their passenger flights transferred to Dorval Airport, which is closer to the city.
ADM President James Cherry told the meeting: "By far the biggest contributor to the losses we are suffering, more than two thirds go away the day we transfer passenger flights from Mirabel to Dorval.
Mirabel is the newer of Montreal's two airports, opened in 1975 at a cost of CAD$500 million (USD$319.6 million). Located around 45 miles north of the city, it has suffered from poor transport links with no direct rail service or major highway.
The leading Canadian carrier at Mirabel, Air Transat, says it is already in discussions with ADM over transferring its flights to Dorval.
"Mirabel airport has suited our needs for 15 years and we have major facilities there, including Air Transat's head office and our main maintenance center," said Denis Jacob, Senior Vice-President, Air Transport. "We are confident that on-going discussions will lead to an agreement on the terms and conditions for moving our operations to Dorval."
Air Transat flies about 900,000 passengers a year in and out of Mirabel.