WestJet ending flights out of Sudbury in October.

• Position: Greater Sudbury Airport

Less than two years after WestJet resumed service at the Greater Sudbury Airport, the company announced on July 2 that it will end flights in and out of the city as of October.

WestJet spokesperson Lauren Stewart confirmed the decision in an email, saying it's because of "weak demand."

"WestJet bases our service on supply and demand and we review our schedule on a regular basis to ensure we are meeting both guests' and the company's needs," Stewart said in the email.

"Unfortunately, demand did not pick up sufficiently over the 16 months that we have conducted operations from the community. This lack of demand consistently left our aircraft operating with more than half of the seats empty.

"We appreciate and understand this is disappointing news for the community."

Before resuming in February 2017, WestJet had been absent from the airport since 2001.

In a news release, officials at the airport said the WestJet decision came despite "consistent growth and increase in passenger (guest) flow over the past year and a half.

"The Greater Sudbury Airport team has worked diligently to ensure the reintroduction of the air carrier was successful and seamless in our community," the statement said. "It is unfortunate the airline has decided to cancel service after a year and a half.

Airport CEO Todd Tripp is quoted in the release as saying the airport experienced 18 per cent traffic growth in 2017 and 19 per cent for...