P.G. Airport Sets Passenger Record

Tuesday, January 08, 2008 05:08 PM

Prince George, B.C. - The Prince George Airport had 407,300 passengers flow through their doors last year .

That’s a 3.27% increase and the highest ever passenger volumes in Prince George Airports history. “These numbers represent enplaned and deplaned passengers flying on scheduled services into Prince George.” Todd Doherty, Manager Aviation Services stated. “If we included charter services such as that of Northern Thunderbird Air, this number may be closer to 450,000.”

Growth is attributed to regional economic climate, the addition of Air Canada’s non-stop service to Calgary and continuation of the sunspot flights to Puerto Vallarta via Transat Holidays and WestJet Airlines. “As our message regarding air services always contains the phrase use it or lose it, being able to demonstrate to air carriers with these numbers that our community supports air travel - is important” Doherty explained. “If our regional air travel was in decline, getting carriers to consider the Prince George opportunity - is a lot more difficult.”

The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) took over operational control of the airport in 2003 and set forth immediately to build an airport that truly represents the needs of industry, tourism and the people of Northern BC. Since 2003 the PGAA through Federal and Provincial funding partnerships have invested $25 million into infrastructure and equipment improvements. In September of 2007 the PGAA broke ground on a $36 million runway extension project that will push the existing runway to 11,400ft enabling the airport to pursue transpacific tech stops and cargo transshipment opportunities. This project is scheduled to be completed November 2008.

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Posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 05:08 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: southfortguy on January 8 2008 5:31 PM

Good News!! Should help in landing Horizon Air...

Posted by: Palopu on January 8 2008 7:03 PM

Thats 14000 passenger more than they had in 2000 when they hit 393,000 passengers.

Roughly 38 passengers per day increase over 2000, not bad but a long way to go.

Posted by: Chester on January 8 2008 7:42 PM

Must have to do with the increase in our population. More people, more people flying. Makes sense to me. One of the studies done must have confirmed that before the airport expansion was approved. Chester

Posted by: owl on January 9 2008 12:56 AM

So, a 3.37% increase from 2006 to 2007 ...

and a 3.64% increase from 200 to 2007 ....

Posted by: Death to Socialism on January 9 2008 7:33 AM

Good news, I really want the direct flight to Vallarta to continue & hopefully other destinations can be added.

Posted by: pulpworker on January 9 2008 9:53 AM

Increase in population?

Posted by: Palopu on January 9 2008 12:46 PM

Numbers between 2000 and 2005 were much lower than the peak numbers of 2000, 2007.

Using percentage increases doesnt give a clear picture. If you averaged the increase from 2000 to 2007 you would get another number. Its all a numbers game.

Posted by: nbcguy on January 9 2008 1:50 PM

Lets remember folks that in 2001 there was a major catastophic event that had a terrible effect on the aviation industry.

Also in 2000 there were 3 major carriers serving Prince George Air Canada, Canadian and WestJet.In late 2000 - early 2001 you have the merger of two carriers AC and CDN. Now there are two major carriers that are stronger than the three were but you have a net loss of seats to and from Prince George.

The industry as a whole has been rebuilding since 9/11 and some community's and businesses have not recovered to pre event levels.

The fact that the Prince George Airport and their partners (IPG, City of PG, Tourism etc) continue to do whatever is necessary to keep our community and region in the forefront of the industry is commendable and should be applauded. It would be very easy, and I would imagine less grief, to just sit back and have the wait and they will come, woe is me, negative and sinical attitudes some of you show.

Give me a break.