Consequence of low loonie: More Canadians picking airports on this side of the border
Posted August 24, 2015 5:09 pm.
Last Updated August 24, 2015 5:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BELLINGHAM (NEWS 1130) – Canadian travellers are another group losing out, now that the dollar has slid to an 11-year low.
The mostly cheaper flights out of Bellingham aren’t so cheap anymore and traffic through that airport is down.
Passenger volume is down so far this summer compared to last by between 25 and 30 per cent. This comes after millions of dollars were invested in expanding the terminal over the last few years.
Claire Newell with Travel Best Bets says more Canadian travellers are flying from Canadian airports or putting off their trips.
“They’re really taking a look at comparing apples to apples when it comes to pricing and factoring in the US dollar, the hassle of crossing the border and dealing with those line ups. It is coming into play and there are so many fewer Canadians crossing the border to fly.”
But she doubts this setback will have long-lasting effects.
“It’s a real shame for the Bellingham airport because they have put such a huge amount of money into the airport. But I don’t see this lasting forever. It’s cyclical and it’s been cyclical. As the dollar goes up and down, the number of visitors leaving out of Bellingham airport does the same.”
Newell is seeing lots of people choosing Mexico, where the loonie goes farther. She says some higher end all-inclusive resorts are already selling out on popular dates months in advance.
