Unfortunately for YXS, as long as it continues to try to be something it is not, it will continue to struggle.

Will we ever live to see the benefit of the $36M runway expansion? Will the high Airport Improvement Fees at YXS ever come down to be more in line with airports of the same size?

You get the feeling sometimes that good money is constantly being thrown after bad. Hope I'm proven wrong.

You will be.

MrPG. Unfortunately you will not be proven wrong. The Prince George Airport Authority for all intents and purposes is broke.

They are getting a cash infusion of 5 Million from the Federal Government, and 3 Million from the Western Diversitication Fund this year. Most of the money will go to pay down debt, mostly to CIBC, however they will still be in debt.

In addition they are supposed to start paying the Federal Government lease fees for all the facilities starting in 2011. Fat chance of that ever happening.

In addition they owe approx 9 Million to the Northern Trust Iniative, that is supposed to be paid in full by 2013. Again fat chance. They will probably re-negotiate the loan.

Their own 5 year forcast shows less that 2% growth in revenues, over 5 years.

So in essence this Authority is finished. The Federal Government is still throwing money at it, because the alternative is they would have to run it themselves, which they dont want to do.

My guess is, is that the Feds will clean up the debt, and then have this operation leased to and run by the Vancouver Airport Authority. If they move all the debt aside, (let the taxpayers pick up the tab) then the new operators can run it at a small profit, and that will be the end of that.

Will we ever have wide body cargo jets landing at PG Airport??? Probably not.

Will we ever have a large manufacturing and distribution centre located at the Airport???? Probably not.

Will we have a new light industrial site located on the property West of the Airport and fronting the new Highway cut off from Highway 16 to 97???? Probably.

Will the new industrial park have a major truck stop, motel, hotel, restaurant, and draw industrial business from the BC Rail, and Carter Light Industrial Parks.???? Probably.

Was this the real reason that this property was taken out of the ALR, and the Airport Distribution idea, was just a red herring???? Probably.

Will I be accused of being negative, and living in the past, and wishing for the return of wooden sidewalks??? You bet.

Will people reading these posts take the time to read the Annual Report for 2008 for the Airport Authority, and make their own analysis???? Hopefully.

Whats with those UGLY wood posts installed between the access road and the parking lot.
Looks like the OK Corral. Not an image of a progressive forward looking facility that it says it is. AND where is the landscaping including trees and shrubs and flowers beds...what is there now is not TOO welcoming.
Get rid of those wood posts and use plantings and wood in a more up to date fashion. It is so embarassing. Who makes these decisions anyways? Certainly not someone with an aesthetic sense and knowledge that 'good design' is 'good business'.
Its not necessarily more expensive.