DEER LAKE — The Deer Lake Regional Airport has set an all time monthly record for most passenger traffic in the history of the facility.
The month of July saw 37,436 passengers departing and arriving, a 12.9 per cent increase over the same period last year. So far in 2011 the airport has seen a 6.2 per cent increase over the same period last year.
Several factors have attributed to the passenger traffic increase. In the past few months the airport saw the addition of an extra daily Westjet flight to Toronto between May and October. Air Canada added another flight to St. John’s and Canadian North added a weekly charter to Northern Alberta. Sunwing also added a service, shared with the Gander airport, to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Improvements and renovations to the facility has also helped. The runway was extended to about 8,000 feet, and the terminal was doubled in size. A parking facility is planned for later this year.
At the airport’s annual general meeting, held earlier in the spring, it was stated the facility saw almost 270,000 passengers in 2010, which was up slightly from the year before.
Airport CEO Jamie Schwartz attributed the additional seat capacity and strong demand for the increase in flyers.
“We had previously reported that both Westjet and Air Canada had increased seat capacity with additional flights or larger aircraft and we are now benefiting from that additional support,” said Schwartz.
“When you combine greater access with strong demand during the peak tourism season, the result is positive.”
The airport’s rental car agencies are reaping the benefits of an increase in business. Dollar Rental Car representative Wendy Reid said without a reservation, travellers wouldn’t be able to rent a vehicle until Labour Day.
“We’ve sold out from July 28 until the end of August right now,” she said. “Unless you made a reservation ahead of time you couldn’t just walk up to our counter and rent a car.”
Marilyn Anstey of Avis Rental Car, said she is seeing much the same situation.
“We have about 200 cars here and we still sometimes have to ask for extra cars to be shipped in from (the Halifax facility),” she said. “We do our best to accommodate here, but there are times when we have to turn away 10 or more people because we just don’t have the vehicles and they don’t have the reservation.”
Budget Rental Car representative Beverly Seaward said there have been occasions this year when customers have not been able to even make a reservation through the company’s website because of the extra passenger traffic.
At the airport’s tourist centre, representative Victoria Legge agreed there are more visitors this year than last.
“They’re asking mainly about Gros Morne Park, how to get there, where to go,” she said. “And a lot are asking about St. Anthony to see ice bergs, ice bergs are big this year, they all want to see them.”
Todd Lee, chair of the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority, said in a release that he was pleased with the strong passenger numbers.
“The increased passenger traffic will not only benefit the airport, but will also generate economic activity for businesses throughout western Newfoundland,” he said.
The previous monthly record for the airport was 36,294 passengers which was set in July 2008.
Source: http://www.thewesternstar.com
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