Abbotsford Airport wants routes to Europe, India, Toronto

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ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) – Abbotsford International Airport is looking overseas to help attract some new customers and boost its business to become a bigger economic engine for the Fraser Valley.

Business Development Manager Jean-Paul Laube says they hope to take in $2 million worth of revenue in 2013, up from the estimated $1.4 million they currently make.

“We have a fairly comprehensive strategy to make sure that we treat the airport as the economic driver that it can be, and that it should be,” explains Laube.

“That comes down to what we can do by way of commercial aviation, potentially charter aviation, aerospace and industrial development, and then lastly cargo and intermodal… transportation of goods,” he adds.

Laube explains the airport would also like to attract more international carriers, although he admits it takes time.

“We look at things like some European flying… India would [also be] a great route to develop, given the size of the Indo-Canadian community in our catchment area… But also, routes like Toronto would be well-received by this community. So we’re always pursuing that.”

The airport recently underwent a $30 million renovation. It’s currently run by an authority that answers to city hall.

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