Prince George, B.C. – Positive financial results and record numbers of  passengers carried  are  proof changes at Air Canada  are working, says  Kevin Howlett, Senior Vice President for Air Canada’s Regional Markets. ( shown in photo at right)But  even though  there has been a  boost in  passenger numbers and  net income across the  airline’s operations,   there is no promise of  any new service for Prince George. “I would never say never, but I would be equally dishonest if I said we were going to start something tomorrow” said Hewlett in his address to the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. “It all comes down to  economics and dollars and cents” says Hewlett.  “We keep  pretty sharp eye on the market, not  just here but elsewhere across the country.  Where we think there is an opportunity we’ll put it in .”  He points to recent additions  such as  Abbotsford to Toronto and  Vancouver to Las Vegas, “It’s not out of the possibility that if that opportunity exists in markets such  as Prince George, it could be looked at.”

Howlett says he has been in discussion with  Prince George Airport Management,  but says the Air Canada model is to build a strong hub and spoke system.  In the case of  YXS, the hub is  Vancouver, and Prince George is a strong ‘spoke’.  He adds that Prince George is only one stop  from any global destination.

Howlett made a pitch for support to  make the Federal and Provincial Government’s  make changes to the tax regime, which he described as “prohibitive “. He pointed out  that the  Prince George Airport and others like it,  do not  receive subsidies, and taxes collected from activity are not returned to this community. He referred to the tax regime as “an artificial barrier that inhibits the opportunity to grow.”

Hewlett says  taxes should be aligned to be similar to the U.S. system, “Where is it not all built on a user pay system, that  you put some public funding in there to offset some of those costs.”

As an example of the difference the tax regime creates between Canadian and American flights,  a  return flight  Vancouver to Phoenix  would cost 580.28.  A return flight  Seattle to Phoenix  would cost $278.60

He adds that Prince George is “One stop from practically anywhere,  Canadian business centre or international business centre” a fact he says should  make  Prince George an attractive  destination for  investors, visitors or  recruitment.