Although still way down from the same point last year, the Prince George Airport saw an increase in passenger numbers last month as inter-provincial travel has been approved, giving CEO Gordon Duke reason for optimism.
Traffic for June was down 91 per cent compared to the same period last year, officials said Tuesday. While not good, that was better than April and May, when they were down 96 per cent.
"I believe this is the very beginning of our recovery" Dke said in a statement issued Tuesday.
"This month we welcomed back Central Mountain Air, so we are seeing more flights come and go. We expect to see additional flights in the coming months from our airline partners."
Come August, WestJet will be operating three flights a day Monday-Friday, two on Saturdays
and one on Sunday to Vancouver. Air Canada will be flying to Vancouver two times a day, seven
days a week, while Central Mountain Air operates three days a week to Kamloops, Kelowna,
Terrace-Kitimat and Fort St. John.
To decrease the spread of COVID-19, the Prince George Airport Authority is now requiring masks be worn at all times in the terminal and is only permitting terminal access to employees and passengers with a valid ticket, unless a traveller requires assistance.
The PGAA has eliminated short term parking fees as "meeters and greeters" must remain outside. Measures such as physical distancing floor decals, additional hand sanitizing stations, increased cleaning of high touch points and Plexiglass dividers have all been installed at YXS to curb the spread.
The airport restaurant and internationals area remain closed.
Year-to-date passenger numbers are down 56 per cent compared to last year.
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