OTTAWA - The Ottawa International Airport Authority is reducing its terminal fees by five per cent effective July 1.
The airport operator said Monday it "recognizes that this is an industry in crisis, given the skyrocketing cost of fuel and the weakened economies in Canada and the U.S."
Air Canada (TSX:AC.B) and WestJet Airlines (TSX:WJA) expressed gratitude for the Ottawa move and hope that other airports would offer similar cost reductions.
"This is not just an airline crisis, but one that impacts the entire industry and ultimately our communities," stated Paul Benoit, president of the airport authority, an independent non-profit corporation whose board of directors represents capital-region businesses, major airport users and the travelling public.
"We recognize the importance of doing our part and will be looking at ways to further reduce our fees over the next several months," Benoit added.
Air Canada "salutes the Ottawa International Airport Authority ... for demonstrating leadership and foresight by voluntarily reducing its fees," said the airline's chief administrative officer, Duncan Dee.
"Hopefully, today's very welcome announcement will lead other industry participants, including the federal and provincial governments, to recognize the severity of the situation facing our industry and emulate the authority's decisive action through similar measures."
WestJet's vice-president of operations, Ken McKenzie, noted that other airport authorities will be setting their 2009 rates in the coming weeks, and the Ottawa airport "has clearly taken a leadership position in recognizing a need to drive costs out of the system in light of record fuel prices."
