Airport considering St. John's, Boston flights - July 20

Interested in flights to Boston or St. John's N.L.? The Fredericton International Airport Authority wants to hear from you.

Enlarge Photo The Daily Gleaner/Stephen MacGilDavid Innes, president and CEO of the Fredericton International Airport, is shown in his office at the airport Monday. The airport authority is considering adding flights to Boston and St. John's, N.L. The airport authority is in discussions with airlines that have some interest in offering the services. Now the airport is gauging the demand for them.

Barrington Consulting Group has been hired to measure the appetite for a Fredericton-St. John's flight and a Fredericton-Boston flight.

Beginning today, members of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will begin receiving surveys about their travel habits.

Citizens can also participate by visiting the airport's website or Facebook page.

"They're markets we don't serve and we think service is justified," said David Innes, CEO of the airport authority.

"Now we just have to show it."

Innes said the airport authority wants to paint an accurate picture of travel patterns.

"We have an idea of what the numbers are," he said. "We don't know who that number consists of."

The survey is looking to highlight business and personal connections to both destinations in hopes of demonstrating that a critical mass of traffic exists to make the flights viable.

Innes said the two flights are separate initiatives.

"We're talking to airlines about both of them."

Susan Holt, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is helping Barrington Consulting Group survey its members.

"We anticipate that our members will demonstrate that they do travel to St. John's and Boston. A number of companies based in Fredericton have offices and clients in those cities," she said.

"Our businesses need direct and affordable travel options so they can reach clients in a timely and cost-effective way."

Holt said chamber members will receive questionnaires this week.

The loss of regular flights to Boston at the end of 2007 was something of a blow for the business community.

"Our view is that there is still substantial demand for travel between Fredericton and Boston.

"We'd like to back that up and help re-establish that link," Holt said.

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