PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING AÉROPORT DE QUÉBEC CONTINUES ITS GROWTH
Québec City, April 30, 2010 – Despite the challenges posed by the world economic situation, Aéroport de Québec continued to grow and develop in 2009. Although there was a slowdown in domestic traffic, the exceptional growth in transborder and international traffic allowed the organization to attain a historic high of 1,035,000 passengers, added on to a marked increase in available services, flights, and destinations.
“These team successes stem first and foremost from the trust an increasing number of passengers are placing in us, and we’d like to thank them once again for this trust,” said Guy Vachon, Chair of the Board. “The 2009 annual report shows our development efforts once again bearing fruit, enabling us to meet ever higher expectations. Our modern, efficient, cutting-edge facilities also help attract and retain carriers and are undoubtedly a big part of the story. More than ever, Jean Lesage International Airport has become a major gateway and a center of vitality and growth.
Another year of growth
Despite the world economic crisis that hit the airline industry hard, Aéroport de Québec in 2009 experienced an increase of 1.2% in traffic and 14% in revenues across the board.
This overall performance led to an excess of proceeds over expenses of $4,328,171, compared to $9,589,317 in 2008. These results are particularly remarkable in that Aéroport de Québec experienced for example a 19% increase in operating costs, a 26% increase in payroll, and a 76% increase in payments in lieu of taxes.
The growth in traffic was particularly sustained for transborder and international flights, which experienced increases of 14.5% and 20.3% respectively. This remarkable performance was due to such factors as new connections, including daily United Airlines flights to Chicago, six new weekly southbound connections added by Sunwing, Transat, and Canjet, three new Porter Airlines flights to downtown Toronto, and Transat’s new connections to Bordeaux and Marseille. Just recently, United Airlines announced a daily flight to Washington beginning June 10, 2010. Since 2006, international traffic has more than doubled, while transborder traffic continues its recent surge with an increase of 33%—results that mirror constant increases in available services.
“Our success reflects the dedication, professionalism, and thoroughness of our team shown every day in the promise of a very special airport experience,” said President and CEO Gaëtan Gagné. “Over the next few years, we must continue our efforts in order to deal with increasing traffic and satisfy ever-higher expectations. If current trends continue, we should reach 1.5 million passengers in 2015 and close to 2 million in 2020. It all shows the importance for Aéroport de Québec of getting started with the next investment phase, giving our organization the tools it needs to continue to develop and remain an economic engine for the area.” Since November 1, 2000, Aéroport de Québec Inc. has overseen the management, operation, maintenance, and development of Jean Lesage International Airport. More than a dozen airlines operate out of the airport, servicing multiple destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe through more than 50 daily direct flights to Eastern Canada and the United States’ biggest gateways, including Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington and Chicago. An additional 45 chartered flights also depart the airport each week in winter, carrying passengers to sunshine destinations, as well as Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Nantes.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Richard Girard
Tel.: 418-640-2700, extension 2692