Now that international flights are possible from PG does this mean that our mayor and hangerson will be able to fly direct to worldwide destinations from right here in PG?

One Customs Officer and one Part Time Customs Officer to Clear one flight a week sounds more like Hooterville that it does an International Airport.

Youve heard the old saw.

**You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear**

I think thats what they are trying to do here.

Every international airport that is big today started out small
and grew as traffic increased.

The result of the hard work that has been done by all those at the PG airport to get this far doesn't deserve to be classed as Hooterville, in my humble opinion.

I'm thrilled to be able to fly direct to PV, however, a couple of thoughts about this article: 1) Transat is, unfortunately, the only serious charter airline in Canada & 2) most flights overseas (Asia) are 747s or similar & would require much longer runways to land here.

I fully agree with you, Death to Socialism, that a longer runway is required.

If the city is willing to borrow $ 8 million for its onethird share of a new Cameron Street bridge, I am certain that it can just as easily decide to borrow $ 3.5 million for the runway extension and give PG's economic future the much needed boost that it deserves.

Diplomat. All the hard work that went into this Airport to date was done by people who are paid a good salary to do it. They do not deserve anymore credit than anyone else who goes to work everyday. Do you think they would be out there beating the drum if they didnt get paid for it?

The mandate for the Airport Societys is to run the Airport and to put all surplus money back into the Airport infrastructure. They must continue to pay rent for certain facilities to the Federal Government.

**Now** Put your thining caps on. We already paid for this Airport along with the buildings and paid the salarys for the employees for years through our tax dollars. We are still being taxed, however the Federal Government no longer runs the Airport, and in fact makes money by having the Airport Society run it.

The Airport Society sets up a Board of Directors and hires a Manager and Staff and pay for this through the **Head Tax** that is assessed on every passenger who boards a plane in Prince George.
The Federal Government made $50 Million Dollars more last year from the Vancouver Airport than it made when it ran the Airport and paid all expenses.
Any additional revenues made by the Prince George Airport has to be put into infrastructure, hence the so called need for a longer runway and for a Customs waiting room etc.

This type of set up (Airport Society) is so succussful in Vancouver they were able to give $30 Million to the Transit Authority to help with paying for the Sky Train to the Airport.

These societys are nothing more than a underhanded way that the Federal Government got out of running the Airports kept the tax dollars and downloaded the cost to Air Travellers.

If you think those people at the Airport are there for any reason other than to promote their own jobs and future employment you are only kidding yourself.

If they cannot borrow enough money or get enough money through the head tax to build the extension of the runway then it will never happen. If it does happen you will never get full utilization. This Aiport is the responsibility of the Federal Government and the Airport Society and has nothing to do with the City of Prince George, and we certainly dont need to be putting any money into it.

If it needs money let it go to the Feds they have it all.

Pal: "Diplomat. All the hard work that went into this Airport to date was done by people who are paid a good salary to do it. They do not deserve anymore credit than anyone else who goes to work everyday. "

Well, I still insist on appreciating all the hard work that they did and saying so!

Far too many people are paid very good wages/salaries and they don't earn them, and there is often very little that can be done afterwards!

My remark about the city borrowing money was made tongue-in-cheek because I simply question the city's famous readiness to borrow for any number of projects, some urgent and necessary, others only marginally so and others entirely optional.

Diplomat. I agree that they worked hard, however there are a number of people in this town that work hard and get no credit, that was my point. Hard work is a way of life for most people.

My figure for the money given to Vancouver Transit Board for Skytrain from the Vancouver Airport Society should have read $300 Million not $30 Million. These Airport Societys are cash cows, however in order to make a lot of money you have to have lots of travellers and lots of planes coming and going. They derive their revenue approx as follows.
Airline Charges (Landing and Take-off. 35%

Concessions, Parking, Rentals. 45%

Airport Improvement Fees (Head Tax) 20%

If you dont have a lot of business then you cant make a lot of money. Time will tell if this venture will be a success.