As part of the World Routes 2017 delegation, Carl Jones, director, air service development at Vancouver Airport Authority, outlines why the airport has enjoyed success in recent years.
What have been your most notable route successes?
YVR has experienced significant growth in recent years, growing 4.3 million over the last three years, with more than two million additional passengers in 2016 alone. This growth can be seen across all sectors but our international sector stands out with a 16.5percent increase in 2016.
Air Canada has been a key driver of this growth as the airline continues to promote YVR as its preferred transpacific hub. So far this year it has introduced Dallas, Denver, Nagoya, Frankfurt, Taipei and will be launching Melbourne service in December. It also just announced increases in services to Heathrow, Melbourne and Delhi and new flights to Paris and Zurich starting summer 2018. And that’s all in addition to their incredible growth in 2016—which saw eight new routes launch including the long-sought after Delhi route on their incredible Dreamliner.
WestJet is another important hub carrier here at YVR and they have some exciting international announcements coming soon, stay tuned for those! We have also been proud to welcome several new carriers this year, including Capital Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines. In addition, Interjet will be launching in October and Flair Airlines in December.
What are you next targets for route development?
YVR is targeting growth across all sectors, with many unserved and underserved routes offering airlines opportunities for expansion. For example, destinations such as Miami, Washington, D.C. in the U.S. and Bangkok, Singapore and Vietnam in Asia do not currently have direct air service from YVR—we want to change that.
YVR’s vision is to build a sustainable gateway between Asia and the Americas, two regions with the fastest growth rates forecast over the next 20 years. YVR is already amongst the top airports in the world for long haul air services to the China and Asia region, and we are now targeting services to Latin America including Peru, Chile and Brazil to build on Central American services already in place. We have had huge success with Aeromexico that launched service in 2015 and has grown to double daily services in the last two years.
What is your main message at World Routes?
YVR was awarded Best Airport in North America for the unprecedented eighth year in a row by Skytrax World Awards and we are working hard with our airline, tourism, government and industry partners to take its place as one of the world’s key global hubs.
YVR offers airlines an environment for growth with an innovative ConnectYVR aeronautical rates and charges program that offers the lowest rates of all of our main competitors. We also offer airlines a strong and growing market at an airport that is curfew free and offers a single terminal precinct, providing passengers with easy transfer options.
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