The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) is still feeling the effects of COVID-19, but also seeing a slow recovery.
The airport says there were 10,902 travellers through Prince George last month, a 73.21 per cent decrease compared to September 2019 which saw 40,697 passengers land in the northern capital.
In August of this year, the drop came in at 72.07 per cent compared to the same month last year which recorded 39,400 passengers.
April, May and June of 2020 saw the largest drops in traffic with April and May seeing more than 95 per cent less travellers, 1,899 and 1,910 respectively, compared to the same timeframe in 2019.
June came in at 91.1 per cent, seeing just 3,505 passengers compared to 39,368 in 2019.
“Slowly but surely we are seeing traffic increase at YXS. We continue to monitor, adjust and develop public health recommendations as we all make our way through this global pandemic,” PGAA President and CEO Gordon Duke said in a news release.
“We continue to work with our airline partners to promote their services and help in any way that we can.”
This month saw Pacific Coastal Airlines return, offering non-stop service to Victoria three times a week. Air Canada also added another flight to Vancouver on select days, after cutting back its schedule due to COVID-19.
Central Mountain Air began service to and from Kelowna on Fridays in October.
The authority says they are still awaiting more information from the federal government on how industries hardest hit from the pandemic will receive help. During his government's throne speech, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pointed to the airline industry in particular.
The PGAA made masks mandatory while in the terminal at all times as of July 21 while also only allowing those with a valid ticket to be in the building, unless a traveller requires assistance.
- with files from Hanna Petersen, PrinceGeorgeMatters
