Passenger Traffic Highest on Record

August 12, 2004

The Deer Lake Regional Airport has just recorded the highest ever volume of passenger traffic for any month in the history of the airport. During July 2004 a record 25,096 passengers arrived or departed from the airport facilities for a 23% increase over the same period in 2003. The previous monthly record of 20,373 passenger movements was established in August of last year.

The increase in traffic has the airport posting a year-to-date increase of 18% over the same 7-month period in 2003. Last year, the airport recorded its highest ever annual passenger volumes with 171,634 enplaning/deplaning movements.

Carl Stratton, Chairman of the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority is pleasantly surprised with the strong numbers. “We were aware there was enough capacity amongst the four airlines to stimulate and grow the market but we didn’t anticipate an increase of this magnitude,” said Stratton. “The numbers represent significant growth and if this trend continues we could expect a very strong and successful year,” added Stratton.

Airport Manager and COO, Jamie Schwartz, suggested that market conditions and level of service played a key role in the recent continued growth. “Additional capacity, low fares and no airport improvement fees have all helped stimulate the market,” said Schwartz. When you combine this level of service during a normally strong summer tourist season the results are obvious – more people will travel by air,” added. Schwartz.

The Deer Lake Regional Airport now serves Western Newfoundland with twenty-three regularly scheduled passenger flights each day to destinations including St. John’s, Goose Bay, Wabush, and Halifax with connections worldwide. A total of four different airlines; Air Canada Jazz, Air Labrador, CanJet Airlines and Provincial Airlines, now offer 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.