At its annual public meeting today, Charlottetown Airport Authority (CAA) reflected on 2016 as a record setting year for the Charlottetown Airport as they reported on the Authority’s operating and financial results.
“In 2016, we saw 354,234 passenger movements, setting a new, all-time passenger traffic record. That’s an impressive 12 per cent increase in passenger traffic in 2016 over 2015. While we are a small province, there is nothing small about that growth,” says Doug Newson, CAA CEO.
The Airport saw increased air services and capacity rolled out by both WestJet and Air Canada. In late 2015, WestJet launched weekly winter service from Charlottetown to Orlando, which ran until the end of April 2016. Air Canada also launched its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge. This service added larger aircraft on two, non-stop, daily flights between Charlottetown and Toronto, contributing to 16 per cent growth in seat capacity in 2016.
This past year, CAA also saw significant progress on the first phase of their 3-year, $22-million Runway Improvement Program. The first phase will see the addition of 2,000 feet to the existing 5,000-foot Runway 10-28. Expanding 10-28 will give the airport two 7,000-foot runways, which will significantly improve airport operations, flexibility and safety in different wind and weather conditions. It also means that there will be no negative impact on Islanders and tourists in the summer of 2018 when major rehabilitation works is required on the main runway.
“In addition to considerably improving our infrastructure and operational effectiveness, this $22-million, multi-year project is contributing to our provincial economy and providing jobs for Islanders,” said CAA Board Chair, Shaun MacIsaac.
CAA also reported on its community relations program that supported numerous local charities, organizations and events throughout the year.