Regardless of current renovations to the Lethbridge Airport, its sole airline supplier is dropping its companies to a single flight per day.
Clear skies are sometimes a welcome improvement when discussing climate situations. Nevertheless, when discussing an airport that’s shedding enterprise, clear skies may very well be an issue.
WestJet supposed to cut back the variety of flights in Lethbridge to 1 on Oct. 3, nonetheless, they are saying it has already occurred as of this week.
“We’ve bought a schedule change that’s sort of began a bit of bit early, as of Oct. 1,” mentioned Jared Mikoch-Gerke, director of alliances and airport affairs with WestJet.
Blaine Hyggen, the mayor of Lethbridge, says the renovations in recent times have been designed to convey enterprise to the airport.
“It’s a hen or egg factor,” mentioned Hyggen at a media scrum following a WestJet roundtable dialogue with enterprise and neighborhood leaders.
“If our airport will not be prepared, are the airways going to wish to come to our neighborhood?”
This example, in line with WestJet, will not be unique to the southern Alberta metropolis.
“The entire markets are sort of beginning to see that, however once more, we’re seeking to supply a schedule that basically provides the most effective connectivity for the biggest majority of the kind of traveller that we’re seeing from every of those markets,” mentioned Mikoch-Gerke.
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WestJet is now not working with Pacific Coastal, however as an alternative switching to WestJet Encore with a Q400 plane.
“We’re extra assured that we are able to ship a schedule extra reliably for the neighborhood of Lethbridge.”
The Q400 has 78 seats, whereas the older planes might solely supply 34 passengers an opportunity to fly. Even so, with WestJet dropping two day by day flights, the elevated capability plane nonetheless solely provides roughly two-thirds of the passenger capability as earlier than.
Yr-to-date in 2024, WestJet has flown 35,000 passengers out and in of Lethbridge whereas providing 66,000 seats. This implies simply over 50 per cent of tickets are being bought.
Karl Moore is a professor at McGill College in Montreal. He says this transfer by WestJet was inevitable.
“Simply not sufficient folks flying to justify plenty of flights and larger planes, so it’s simply the character of a smaller city like Lethbridge. It has plenty of charms, however this is likely one of the negatives,” mentioned Moore.
He says there’s actually a spot for smaller airports in Canada, as is evidenced in Abbotsford, Hamilton and different places as a result of they provide giant cities a substitute for flying from the busier centres. Nevertheless, he says he doubts Calgarians would ever be enticed sufficient to journey to Lethbridge to fly from right here, even when there have been extra locations out there.
As it’s, Calgary is the one vacation spot for Lethbridge air travellers. This ends in many individuals selecting to drive the 2 hours alongside Freeway 3 to the bigger airport.
“That was a giant query, you realize, it’s simpler for me to drive to Calgary,” mentioned Hyggen when discussing the roundtable speak. “So, how can we alter that mindset? That comes with, after all, the connection occasions out of Calgary.”
WestJet says the brand new schedule from Lethbridge will guarantee passengers arrive in Calgary throughout the very best occasions to make their connecting flights to different centres in Canada and the USA.
Regardless of all considerations, there are these in Lethbridge’s enterprise neighborhood who’re keen to welcome the change.
“I feel we’re excited to see a much bigger aircraft that may maintain extra folks and, simply figuring out that it’s going to be approaching time, on the times that it’s alleged to, is de facto thrilling for us,” mentioned Dominka Wojcik, senior director of communications with Tourism Lethbridge.
As for the staff at Lethbridge’s airport, no layoffs are anticipated. In keeping with Cameron Prince, the supervisor of the airport, there are sufficient jobs to maintain everybody busy and employed.
“For us, we function the airport kind of the identical no matter what number of flights are coming or going,” mentioned Prince.
Preserving a optimistic mindset, Hyggen says WestJet has promised to maintain tabs on the scenario and re-evaluate as wanted.
“I do know lots of people are going to say, ‘Oh my goodness, are you kidding me?’ However that is going to be monitored.”
“There’s that chance to extend site visitors sooner or later,” he mentioned, including the way forward for YQL will not be instantly in jeopardy.
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