Press release
Opening of the transborder jetty at Montreal-Dorval International Airport: An important tool for the development of Greater Montreal
Montreal, April 10, 2003 - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is delighted with the official opening today of the new transborder jetty of the Montreal-Dorval International Airport by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM).
Insofar as Greater Montreal cherishes ambitions to be an international city participating actively in the global economy, we must have adequate airport infrastructures. In this regard, the opening of the transborder jetty today marks an important step in the efforts we must make to upgrade our facilities to the level of other great metropolises around the world, declared Benoit Labonté, president of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Despite the slowdown of the air transport sector over the past two years, nobody questions the eventual recovery of this sector and, above, all, its importance to the economic growth of the Montreal area. In this context, we must continue to focus on planning efforts aimed at optimizing the use of the region's airport infrastructures and remain vigilant concerning future challenges. Moreover, the Board of Trade is concerned about the growing difficulties facing travelers wishing to access the Dorval terminal. To the Board of Trade, it is clear that the overhaul of the Dorval traffic circle and the construction of a rail link between Montreal and the Dorval terminal are just as critical as the construction of new jetties, insisted Labonté.
The Board of Trade also took advantage of the inauguration of the transborder jetty to repeat its support for the consolidation of airport operations in the metropolitan area. In an age of fierce competition among the metropolises of the world, there is no doubt that adopting a regional strategy and vision is of capital importance to the development of metropolitan Montreal. The development of airport infrastructures must be based on this same perspective, whereby the three airports are managed by the same regional body and count on the complementarity of their facilities to raise Montreal to the level of a North American hub.
In concrete terms, this means we must maximize the impact of investments such as the construction of the transborder jetty by concentrating all passenger flights in Dorval and developing Mirabel as an industrial airport, an aerospace hub, and an air cargo transit center. Finally, the Board of Trade believes we must complete the regional consolidation of metropolitan airport facilities by entrusting ADM with the administration of the St. Hubert airport and concentrating a large percentage of the short-haul charter business flights that now use Dorval in St. Hubert, concluded Labonté.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has more than 7 000 members. Its mission is to be the leading group representing the interests of the Greater Montreal business community. The objectives are to maintain, at all times, relevance to its membership, credibility towards the media and influence towards government and decision-makers.
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Source:
Isabelle Hudon
Vice-president, Strategies and communications
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: (514) 871-4000, ext. 4010
ihudon@ccmm.qc.ca