NEW: Air Canada Discontinues Service from T.F. Green
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Air Canada has suspended its twice daily service from T.F. Green Airport to Toronto beginning March 1, Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing of the R.I. Airport Corporation Patti Goldstein told GoLocalProv.
Air Canada served as the sole airline offering international flights out of T.F. Green with two flights a day to Toronto on an 18-seat Beechcraft 1900.
Goldstein claims that Rhode Island's small market combined with limited flight offerings was not promoting positive business growth. "The Air Canada route was not performing up to the carrier's expectation. We have a very small market for them offering just two daily flights on 18 seat Beechraft aircraft."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile Rhode Island's market size is not overwhelming, Goldstein recognizes that there are still customers looking to travel to Canada and the airport is working to account for them. "Many of our carriers offer connecting service to popular Canadian markets, but we will continue to look for other nonstop opportunities for our customers."
Despite T.F. Green Airport's loss of Air Canada, Goldstein does not foresee the change bearing tremendous influence on air traffic. Although it is disappointing to lose markets, Goldstein understands the challenges that reduced capacity, fuel costs, and mergers pose to airlines.
