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PASSENGER TRAFFIC THIS SUMMER AT THE
The Deer Lake Regional Airport has just set another record for passenger traffic with a whopping 24% increase in August over the same period last year. This announcement follows on the heels of last months record setting level of 17,041 passenger movements. The total number of enplaning/deplaning passengers in August of 2002 was 16,610 as compared to 13,427 in 2001. The previous record for August was established in 1999 when 15,816 passengers arrived or departed from Deer Lake. The combined number of passenger movements for July and August has also set a new record for summer passenger traffic volume. Nearly 34,000 passengers arrived or departed from the airport during the eight week summer period. Carl Stratton, Chairman of the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority, noted that the two consecutive record breaking months resulted in the best summer ever in the history of the airport. “Everybody benefits when we experience high traffic volumes,” said Stratton. “I can say, without hesitation, that this was the best summer, from many perspectives, that we have witnessed in the history of the airport”, added Stratton. Jamie Schwartz, Airport Manager, attributed the increase in passenger traffic to additional capacity and competitive fares. “It is obvious that the airline industry market can be stimulated by increased capacity and low or discounted airfares,” said Schwartz. “We have experienced growth as a result of strong customer support for the new summer service by Air Canada Tango and SkyService as well as Provincial Airlines new year-round service from Deer Lake to Halifax,” added Schwartz. The Deer Lake Regional Airport serves Western Newfoundland with regularly scheduled passenger service to and from locations such as St. John’s, Goose Bay, Halifax, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Wabush with connections worldwide. The Airport is one of a few remaining airports in Canada that does not charge or collect an airport improvement fee or passenger facilitation fee.
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