Reintroducing Transatlantic Service to Ottawa
A recent partnership between Ottawa Tourism and the Ottawa International Airport Authority shows how strategic collaboration can open up new routes and opportunities.
Ottawa, as Canada's capital, is a global destination. But what happens when a city is sandwiched between two major aviation hubs? How does it secure its own air connections?
Our team met with Joel Tkach, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at the Ottawa International Airport Authority. Tkach spoke about the role Ottawa Tourism has in expanding connectivity to the destination. This is particularly important for a city like Ottawa, which despite being the capital, is in proximity to two major connection hubs in Toronto and Montreal, which makes it difficult to attract foreign carriers.
So, when the Ottawa Airport Authority saw an opportunity to reintroduce Air France’s transatlantic service after the pandemic, it needed strong partners and this is when Ottawa Tourism stepped in. Ottawa Tourism was able to help with an agreement with Air France and put some assurances on the table to reduce the risk of the Air France operation. This is in addition to leading the marketing for point of sale in France and other parts of Europe. The Ottawa Airport Authority and Ottawa Tourism worked very hard until June 2023 when Air France inaugurated its new non-stop flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Ottawa.
As a result of this successful collaboration, the Ottawa Airport Authority is currently working in partnership with Ottawa Tourism to reach a similar agreement with other airlines and extend the connectivity of the destination.
The successful launch of Air France's Ottawa route demonstrates the power of collaboration in overcoming geographical challenges and expanding a destination's reach. It serves as a blueprint for how tourism boards and airport authorities can work together to secure valuable air service, benefitting both the local economy and the global traveler. With new partnerships in the works, Ottawa's connectivity is poised to soar even higher, ensuring the Canadian capital remains accessible and appealing to visitors from around the world.
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