Passenger volume down significantly at key Hamilton airport

Passenger volume is down significantly at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, with fewer people flying out of the city this year than during the pandemic restrictions put in place in 2020.

Data shows the airport is expecting to have served 325,000 travelers by year-end, which is a significant drop from last year’s 820,000 passengers.

Executive Managing Director of the airport, Cole Horncastle, says the passenger nosedive is a result of several factors, including the shifting budget airline market.

“Last summer was actually when we felt the impacts of Swoop winding up into WestJet when they stopped operating in October,” he said.

“So, it was really from that point in time on that we have been seeing the lower passenger traffic level.”

Despite this, though, Horncastle says the airport is thriving when it comes to land development and cargo.

“On the cargo side of the business we are looking at what will be one of the busiest winters that we’ve had to date,” he said.

Horncastle added that the goal for next year is to continue to expand on passenger flights, cargo, and land development.

READ MORE: Ancaster businesses hit hard by ongoing Garner Road construction delays