"More than one in five Canadian leisure travellers ducked higher domestic airfare taxes and fees last year by driving to the United States to fly to U.S. or international destinations, says a new Hotel Association of Canada survey.
The number of Canadians who hopped the border increased by three percentage points from 18 per cent in 2009, according to the association's 2011 Canadian travel intentions survey released Wednesday.
An additional 11 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they would also consider making the trek in 2011, in part because of the strong loonie.
The potential for almost one third of Canadian travellers to avoid their local airport will cost Canadian airports, hotels and airlines billions of dollars in lost business, says association president Tony Pollard.
The growing travel trend highlights the need for the federal government to reduce airport fees, travel costs and airline surcharges, he said.
The travel industry has long pleaded without much success for the government to reduce taxes and fees.
The savings from driving an hour or so to fly out of a U.S. airport can be substantial.
Montrealers departing in two weeks for a week-long trip to Orlando, Fla., for example, would pay twice as much to fly from Pierre Trudeau International Airport than from Burlington, Vt.
A midweek roundtrip Air Canada flight costs $629, including $137 in fees, taxes and surcharges. Star Alliance partner United Airways offers the trip for $308, including $42.80 in taxes and fees.
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