The airport estimates that in October 2000, Canadians made up 10% of the airport traffic. In October 2004 that number jumped to 29%.
Part of that increase in percentage is probably due to fewer Rochester people using
BUF than in October 2000. JetBlue had just started at
ROC a few months before and wasn't ramped up to five dailies yet. Also, AirTran didn't enter
ROC until March 2002, and of course Indy in July 2004.
Still, though, most of that increase must be a big increase in Canadians coming over.
YYZ certainly doesn't lack for low-fare service to Florida, or the US west coast; WestJet also serves
LGA and I think (correct me if wrong)
MDW. I'll bet a lot of "Golden Horseshoe" folks find
BUF much more pleasant to use than congested
YYZ. And of course Southwest, AirTran and Indy offer low-fare access from
BUF to lots of USA markets that aren't covered by WestJet, CanJet, or AirTransat.
If
ROC keeps growing at its first-quarter 2005 pace, it should break 3 million for the first time this year.
BUF should get to at least 4.8 million, though we can always hope for 5 million.
Jim