The Southern Ontario Airport Network is expected to attract more business for Windsor Airport
Windsor International Airport is hoping to gain some business following the launch of a new 'Southern Ontario Airport Network.'
Spearheaded by Pearson Airport's need for expansion, it wants to step back from some of its other services such as pilot training, executive jets, cargo and MRO (Maintenance Repairs and Overhaul)
Windsor Airport Director of Finance Jim McCormack says Windsor is very interested in cargo and the MRO operations because of Premier Aviation.
He says it would be a win for Pearson and a win for Windsor.
McCormack says Windsor is poised to gain some business because 6.5-million people live within a 90-minute drive radius of YQG.
He says Pearson Airport wants to connect to 80 per cent of the world's economic activity, but it has no room to expand and this allows them to transition out of some activities.
McCormack says Windsor Airport would still compete with other airports for business. "It is not so much that we all sitting together in a room and taking here I want this and I want this. It is more that Pearson would say who would like this and those who want it would talk to that group"
He says there are certain operations at Pearson that could be easily handled in Windsor such as cargo that's destined for Southwest Ontario already.
Eleven Southern Ontario airports are part of the intiative called "Southern Ontario Airport Network" or SOAN.
It is predicted by the early 2040s, air travel in southern Ontario will reach about 110-million passengers.