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Despite robust travel demand, Windsor International Airport has only recovered 50 to 65 percent of its pre-pandemic passenger traffic and 40 percent of its daily flights to Toronto as the airline industry struggles with pilot and equipment shortages.

“Depending on your standards, it has a lot to do with seasonal and variable traffic,” says Mark Galvin, CEO of Windsor International Airport.

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“We had Flair (airlines) last year, which certainly helped, and this year we don’t have them. WestJet has returned and is doing well, but our Air Canada and Porter flights are less strong than they were pre-COVID and there are many reasons for that.

“There is a shortage of pilots and aircraft. Of course we would like to create more capacity for the region.”

Galvin added that aircraft giant Boeing’s ongoing difficulties in building planes and quality control, as well as higher fares on routes from regional airports, would also hamper the recovery.

Before the pandemic, Windsor had 10 daily flights to Toronto Pearson International and Billy Bishop airports. There are currently four daily flights to Toronto and WestJet offers three weekly flights to Calgary.

Galvin said Sunwing will resume seasonal flights to southern holiday destinations from the end of November.

Despite the volume reduction, Galvin remains confident that Windsor Airport will remain profitable in 2024 and decisions have been made to control costs.

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“When connectivity decreases and flight frequency is lower, that is certainly a challenge,” Galvin said.

“We have heard from travellers who want to connect through Pearson Airport or travel point-to-point to other destinations and they would be happy to have the opportunity to do so in Windsor.

“It will take some time until we get through this post-pandemic period.”

Air traffic has returned to 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels on the country’s main routes between major cities, but regional airports such as Windsor have seen operations reduced or suspended entirely.

Galvin said his discussions with Flair Airlines about returning to Windsor were typical of the challenges airlines are currently facing.

“I think Flair’s return is not a question of if, but when,” Galvin said. “We hope to welcome her back to the destinations she has flown before.”

“Halifax has done very well, Vancouver has done very well. And they beat Orlando last winter.”

“It comes down to a business decision that airlines have to make with their limited resources of pilots or aircraft.”

In addition to the frequency, passengers also have to contend with the frustration of flight cancellations, and given the reduced flight schedules, they have few alternative options.

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Galvin acknowledges that cancellations are affecting passengers’ decisions about how they want to travel, or not. With more hybrid work options available, business travel has also declined.

“The sector relies on certainty,” Galvin said. “People want to know that they will take off as expected.”

“Cancellations and scheduling were difficult issues. A good connection is very important, but it has to be reliable so that you can make connections relatively easily.”

Galvin said he was encouraged that airlines continued to be interested in exploring options in Windsor. What is happening locally in terms of population growth and economic investment has not gone unnoticed.

“This is our first slide in our presentations to airlines,” Galvin said.

“We are educating our existing and potential new airline partners that Windsor’s economy is booming with the battery plant and supply chain growth.

“We continue to try to lay the foundations and demonstrate that Windsor is the perfect place for new routes if the pilots and aircraft are in place.”

Galvin said Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa have been identified as the most popular Canadian routes to add, while Las Vegas, Orlando, the Caribbean and Mexico are the most popular winter options for domestic travellers.

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“There are people who want to fly to Europe as well and we are trying to work with the airlines on that,” Galvin said.

Although Detroit is a competitor in air travel, the city is also a growing source of passengers, he said.

Canadian routes and connections are particularly attractive for passengers from the Midwestern states of the USA. Galvin attributes this to the country’s travel friendliness and the purchasing power of the US dollar.

“At any given time, 40 percent of the cars in our parking lot have U.S. plates,” Galvin said. “We see them from as far away as Ohio and Kentucky.”

“If we have the right routes, we can compete successfully with Detroit.”

Galvin noted that freight traffic in Windsor is also expected to increase to meet the growing needs of the local economy.

The local airport has the third longest runway in Ontario and has already handled the giant Antonov cargo aircraft.

“We already have quite a few cargo and private business flights,” Galvin said.

“With the addition of the battery plant and the supplier plants, we expect to expand this business. We have the facilities and a wonderful location that we will use to serve them.”

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Twitter.com/winstarwaddell

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