COVID-19 continues to hit Prince George.
The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) saw a large drop in passengers due to some airlines ceasing operations, as well as WestJet and Air Canada offering numerous flights to Vancouver for essential travel.
The airport says, in March, numbers were down 44 per cent compared to the same time last year.
In 2019, 44,817 passengers went through YXS while last month only saw 24,964.
YXS says it expects another large dip when April's numbers come in.
“We will do our part to get through this as quickly and safely as possible," PGAA President and CEO Gordon Duke says in a release.
"When it’s time for recovery, we will be here for our community. Air travel will play a major role in helping rebuild our regional economy, whether it’s a family vacation, a successful business trip, or bringing distant friends and relatives together. We will continue to enable jobs and economic growth for our region.”
The airport authority is a not-for-profit organization and relies largely on revenues from flights and passenger traffic.
"We are working closely with federal, provincial and municipal governments to ensure the continued viability of our airport during this unparalleled downturn," the statement adds.
"As British Columbia’s major northern airport, maintaining strong air service connectivity is vital for our region and the many communities we serve. Air cargo continues to be a vital service that supports critical supply chains for medical, food, pharmacy and other essential supplies. YXS also handles numerous medevac flights each day to support emergency health situations in remote areas."
As of this publication, there are 39 test-positive COVID-19 cases in northern B.C. with no deaths, three in hospital and 30 recoveries.
