With more than 80 per cent of pre-pandemic volume returning to the Comox Valley Airport, the chair of the airport commission is confident the airport is in a strong position going forward.
On June 21, Martin Crilly, the chair of the Comox Valley Airport Commission led the annual general meeting to review CVAC鈥檚 operations, audited financial statements and provide an update on services by Mike Atkins, the airport鈥檚 chief executive officer.
Atkins said the past year was challenging in the aviation industry with huge capacity issues and nearly 10 days without flights around Christmas due to weather.
He added airline employees throughout the pandemic who were let go from the industry have moved on to other jobs.
鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges is scheduling and capacity because airlines can鈥檛 deliver it. But I don鈥檛 expect the same issues as last summer (going forward).鈥�
In the past fiscal year, 323,429 people passed through the Comox Valley Airport. In the 2020 fiscal year, the pandemic lowered that number to 127,663, and in the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the number of passengers that passed through the airport was 66,581.
Atkins believes the numbers will rise to 85-90 per cent pre-pandemic volume, however, he added it may take a while for airlines to get back to full operational capacity.
Fiscally, CVAC is approaching nearly $24 million in net assets. There was an increase of 73 per cent in concession revenue (car rental, parking, food) as well as a 78 per cent increase in airport improvement fees.
Atkins also noted the CVAC board has four new members and they hope to have a new master plan in place for the next 20 years by December 2023.
Other highlights included the return of the YQQ Ambassadors program following the pandemic (50 volunteers to assist passengers in the terminal); a 75 per cent reduction in diesel usage as part of their climate action steps and new additions to the terminal including digital screens, a larger security screening area, an increase in hold room furniture and a licenced hold room cafe.
Despite the quick departure of ultra-low-cost airlines Flair and Swoop from YQQ, Atkins said the airport didn鈥檛 lose any service for their regular destinations. He confirmed there was no staffing impact to the two ULC leaving and it didn鈥檛 leave passengers without options to get to their destinations.
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