The Prince George Airport saw a 44 per cent reduction in passengers in March, compared to March 2019.
Last month 24,964 passengers flew through the airport, compared to 44,817 in March 2019, according to a press release issued on Tuesday. The airport authority expects a "massive dip in passenger numbers" in April, because travel restrictions have been in place for the entire month.
"We will do our part to get through this as quickly and safely as possible. When it’s time for recovery, we will be here for our community” airport authority president Gordon Duke said in the release. “Air travel will play a major role in helping rebuild our regional economy, whether it’s a family vacation, a successful business trip, or bringing distant friends and relatives together. We will continue to enable jobs and economic growth for our region.”
The airport remains open and Air Canada and WestJet continue to operate flights to Vancouver several times per week. Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines have ceased operations to the city until June.
The restaurant and internationals areas of the airport are closed, and anyone travelling by air is required to wear a non-medical face mask.
Flight schedules change on a frequent basis, so anyone travelling is urged to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information.
"As a not-for-profit corporation, the (airport) relies heavily on revenues from flights and passenger traffic, and both have been reduced severely," the airport press release said. "We are working closely with federal, provincial and municipal governments to ensure the continued viability of our airport during this unparalleled downturn."
