Airport Sets Record For Monthly Traffic

August 21, 2003

During the month of July, the Deer Lake Regional Airport recorded the highest ever volume of passenger traffic for any month in the history of the airport. A record 20,336 passengers traveled through the airport facilities in July for a 19% increase over the same period in 2002 when the previous record was established. The previous monthly record was 17,041 passengers.

The traffic figures also represented the 13th consecutive month of increases as compared to the same period in the previous year. Despite the volatility within the airline industry, the Deer Lake Regional Airport has experienced a steady increase in traffic during the past three years. In the year 2000 following the departure of Canadian and Air Atlantic, traffic bottomed out at 131,434 enplaning and deplaning passengers. However, that number climbed to 140,425 in 2001 and in 2002 increased to 150,556 passenger movements. Current traffic levels at the end of July are up 12% over the same period last year. Over 95,000 passengers have arrived or departed through the airport during the past seven-month period.

Carl Stratton, Chairman of the Deer Lake Regional Airport is pleased with the news. “We are fortunate to experience such growth when many regions of the country have witnessed a decline in travel”, said Stratton. “These strong numbers are indicative of the quality and potential of the tourism market in Western Newfoundland, the Northern Peninsula and Southern Labrador”, added Stratton.

The Airport Manager, Jamie Schwartz, suggested that price and service have also helped stimulate the market. “As a result of increased competition and service at Deer Lake we are seeing fare structures become very attractive and affordable”, said Schwartz. “The low fares combined with no airport improvement fees, have helped make it easier and cheaper and more people are taking advantage”, added Schwartz.

The Deer Lake Regional Airport now offers fifteen regularly scheduled passenger flights each day throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and Eastern and Central Canada with connections worldwide. A total of four different airlines; Air Canada Jazz, Air Labrador, CanJet Airlines and Provincial Airlines, now operate a regular service to and from Deer Lake. The Deer Lake Regional Airport is one of only a few remaining airports in Canada that does not collect or charge an airport improvement or passenger facilitation fee.