Airport Facing Capital Crunch May Have to Bump AIF
Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George Airport Authority is warning that it may have to boost it’s Airport Improvement Fee, if it is to raise the money to cover the capital improvements necessary over the next decade.
The Airport has had a couple of banner years, with increased passenger numbers and air traffic, but will need about $50 million dollars over the next decade to keep its infrastructure in tip top shape.
Airport CEO John Gibson says despite intense lobbying over the last six years, YXS is not eligible for any funding from the Federal Government because the airport is a National Airport System because it is on Federally owned land. The Federal Government will not invest any money into operations on their own land. “Any other airport our size, which is not an NAS would qualify for 25% of the rehabilitation costs.”
Gibson says without federal funding, the only area where funds can be found is through the Airport Improvement Fee, by raising it from the current $20 to $25 or $30 dollars.
As for when such a hike would be implemented, Gibson says that’s a difficult date to set as there has been increased pressure from a variety of supporters and he is hopeful there will be some positive news “We won’t know until we have been told the federal funding well is absolutely dry.”
Boosting the Airport Improvement Fee will have an impact as Airlines are now required to publish the full cost of fares, and a five to ten dollar boost to the fee could make a difference to some travellers. Gibson says WestJet has already expressed concern over the possible increase.
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Comments
Holy Hannah…. $25 maybe $30? Victoria is only $10. Kamloops $10. Nanaimo $10. What is YXS doing with all that money? They said themselves that passenger numbers are up and air traffic has increased.
Now I’m starting to understand why WestJet has never had direct flights to Edmonton from PG. That would be $55-$60 in AIFs added to the ticket price.
btw… WestJet just announced daily flights to Edmonton from Nanaimo. That’s why I made that comparison. I fail to understand the market that Nanaimo would have to fill an Edmonton direct flight, need that PG doesn’t. (sorry, off topic)
That’s insane! It was high enough already, this is just over the top now! I really don’t know what else to say about this….
Gecko it’s oil patch workers filling that plane. Those that would rather live on the island than Edmonton.
Brother gecko the 3 airports you listed are at maximum capacity already and are unlikely to grow any more especially so with Kamloops unless it relocated the airport it can no longer expand and the same can be said for Victoria and Nanaimo
PG has room to expand and has been doing so I personally have no problem with it
it wasn’t all the long ago they were tooting their horn as to how well they were doing… wow things sure changed fast or were they lying to us?
“Airport CEO John Gibson says despite intense lobbying over the last six years, YXS is not eligible for any funding from the Federal Government because the airport is a National Airport System because it is on Federally owned land.”
Another example of the Harper Government’s lack of support, not to worry, we will pay out of our own pockets.
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