With Westjet weighing
their options for a regional airline service, representatives from
Prince Rupert were invited to Calgary to make their pitch to the company
for a stop on the north coast.
YPR manager
Rick Reed was joined by economic development officer Derek Baker and
others to the meeting, with only 35 airports across Canada being
invited. According to Reed, the meeting was a very productive one.
“They asked
a lot of questions about the community, the demographics, age, income,
traffic numbers for the past several years, ticket prices and the
catchment area being served,” he said.
“I think if
anyone has a chance, we do. We presented them with a business case
developed by a consultant to develop a Prince Rupert to Vancouver flight
which, using the same aircraft, carries on to Victoria. Other than
Vancouver, the next biggest market people travel to is Victoria, and we
showed them the business case that would support that route.”
So far this year, numbers at the airport are up
2.64 per cent compared to last year, excluding private flights using
the airport, and Reed says the projection is for a three to five per
cent increase by the end of the year.
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