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Category: Regina YQR

  • Future Air Canada flights to Regina could be affected by loss of control tower

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard,  Global News | February 8, 2021

    Regina Aiport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz says if it loses its air traffic control tower it would be 'incredibly' expensive to bring back.
    Regina Aiport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz says if it loses its air traffic control tower it would be ‘incredibly’ expensive to bring back. Derek Putz / Global News

    Air Canada confirmed that if the Regina airport loses its air traffic control tower it will have an effect on the airline’s decision to send flights to the Queen City.

    David Rheault, Air Canada’s managing director, government and community relations, addressed the issue during the House of Commons’ transportation committee on Thursday.

    “For operations, if there’s no control tower, the operations become more complex so operations will go towards other airports, so it entails problems for our carriers,” Rheault said in response to Regina MP Michael Kram when asked about the impact of losing the airport’s air traffic control tower.

    “The costs increase for everyone, difficult decisions have to be made that might jeopardize infrastructure in the long term. This is why measures have to be put in place to preserve our infrastructure.”

    It comes as no surprise to James Bogusz, Regina Airport Authority president and CEO, who said there isn’t much more to cut with only two Air Canada flights a day.

    But to lose the air traffic control tower altogether, Bogusz said it would create uncertainty moving forward even when the economy does recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

    In November, Nav Canada said it would be conducting a study looking at removing its control tower services from the Regina airport as a way to cut costs.

    About two weeks later, Nav Canada announced several layoff notices to more than 100 air controllers across the country, including 10 in Regina.Click to play video 'Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs'

    WATCH: Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs

    Before a final decision regarding any closures is made, Nav Canada does have to provide a report supporting its decision to the federal minister of transport.

    “We’re asking it to stop. We have had this control tower for decades. The thing is built into the core of our terminal building,” Bogusz said.

    “Hearing Nav Canada’s rationale for why they’re doing this just doesn’t work for us.”

    If the tower is lost, Bogusz said it would be incredibly expensive to bring it back.

    “We understand everyone’s struggling in aviation. We’ve laid off staff, we’ve reduced our operating budgets, but we see that as temporary,” Bogusz said.

    “If you close the tower, you’re going to have to go and rehire all these controllers, move them back into the city. These are very specialized jobs. The idea that they might reopen it down the road, that’s incredibly challenging.

    “It’s much easier to maintain the service today or even if they have to do something like reducing the hours temporarily – the operating hours of the tower – we could even accept that.”

    Kram, who is a member of the transportation committee, said the loss of the air traffic control tower “could have a devastating effect on the quality of life for the people of Regina.”

    “It’s bad enough that, after the pandemic, families yearning for a vacation may have to drive to another city to catch a flight,” Kram said.

    “With few flights, our ability to host international conferences and sporting events will be diminished. Our ability to stage international trade shows, like Agribition and Canada’s Farm Progress will be diminished. Our ability to attract businesses and high-skilled workers will be diminished.”

    Bogusz said Nav Canada’s review could be ready for the minister of transport sometime in the spring, who will either accept or reject its report.

    © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • Province asks feds to reverse Nav Canada’s decision to lay off air traffic controllers in Regina

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard  Global News | February 1, 2021

    Airplanes have been stuck on the tarmac at the Regina International Airport this morning as the airport deals with a security incident.
    The Saskatchewan government is calling on the federal government to step in and reverse the decision made by Nav Canada to lay off air traffic controllers in Regina. Skycam / Regina Airport

    With the future of Regina’s air traffic control tower in limbo following a recent announcement made by Nav Canada to lay off all of the tower’s staff, the Saskatchewan government is asking the federal government to step in.

    In a letter addressed to Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways Fred Bradshaw asked him to reverse the layoffs in Regina and to hold off on any decision surrounding the future of the city’s air traffic control tower for at least one year.

    Moe supported Bradshaw’s ask in a Facebook post Monday.

    “The federal government needs to immediately reverse its decision to lay off air traffic controllers at Regina International Airport (YQR) and hit pause on any consideration of closing the control tower at YQR. Now is not the time to be making a decision like this,” Moe said in the Facebook post.

    “While the number of flights in and out of YQR is greatly reduced right now, this will change when we emerge from pandemic and YQR will be an important part of Regina’s and Saskatchewan’s strong economic recovery.”

    Moe said will be discussing the issue with other Canadian premiers in the coming days and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the next First Ministers call.

    Regina MP not pleased after Nav Canada pays out $7M in bonuses amid layoff notices

    Regina MP Michael Kram said he was “astonished” after learning Nav Canada handed out about $7 million in bonuses to 558 of its managers during the same time it was issuing layoff notices to more than 100 air traffic controllers across the country.

    Kram first learned of the bonuses at a House of Commons Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities last Thursday. Kram sits on the committee.

    “When I heard this testimony in committee I was astonished,” Kram said in a press release on Monday.

    READ MORE: Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs

    “Where I come from, you get a bonus for doing a good job. If tearing down Canada’s air infrastructure, throwing people out of work, and devastating the post-COVID recovery of Canadian communities is what Nav Canada considers a good job, I’d hate to see what they consider a bad job.”

    Nav Canada confirmed to Global News the company paid $7 million to 558 managers at all levels of the organization, saying the money was from the company’s last fiscal year — September 2019 to August 2020.

    “The management incentive program is a one-time payment that has been maintained but that has also been reduced significantly, reflective of our current realities while balancing the long-term need to retain leadership talent,” Nav Canada said in an emailed statement on Monday.

    Kram describes the situation as “adding insult to injury.”

    “Thanks to Nav Canada’s decision to close air traffic control towers, some airlines are considering consolidating their Saskatchewan service to Saskatoon,” Kram said.

    “Our city may lose the ability to host major trade shows, conference, sporting and cultural events if the air traffic control tower shuts down.”

    The Canadian Air Traffic Control Association, the union that represents all air traffic controllers in Canada, brought the information forward at Thursday’s committee meeting.

    Jerry Brodt, CATCA’s prairie regional vice-president, said a lot of ex-air traffic controllers become managers and had told him they were collecting bonuses, which he said they received in December.

    “There was disbelief,” Brodt said. “How could this company be laying off people which are the backbone of the corporation, any air navigation corporation, these air traffic controllers… and the managers were taking money.

    “Nav Canada had done a good job in previous years of befriending us and making us a team. How can any employee go, ‘I’m losing my job, I now have a six months’ notice’ and then find out that these people gave themselves bonuses. It’s hard not to get angry.”

    Nav Canada said it has taken a number of measures to drive down operating expenses down, including amongst its management workforce.Click to play video 'Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs'Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs

    It said 20 per cent of management jobs have been eliminated, management pay cuts have been made, as well as reductions to the pension plan applicable to management.

    In a statement to Global News Transport Canada said:

    Transport Canada recognizes that passenger volumes continue to decline by almost 90%, and that all organizations need to re-evaluate their needs, including NAV CANADA.

    Transport Canada is aware that NAV CANADA is reviewing their operations and considering reductions to its level of service at several sites.

    NAV CANADA is not in a position to implement the proposed termination or reduction in the level of service until the Minister has been provided with a copy of NAV CANADA’s level of service review and has had a reasonable opportunity to review it.

    Prior to any implementation of service level changes by NAV CANADA, Transport Canada must ensure that any reduction or termination of service proposed would not unacceptably increase the risk to aviation safety. No compromise on safety will be tolerated.

    © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • Regina airport seeking bailout as airlines suspend flights to sun destinations

    From CBC News – link from source story

    The Regina International Airport is projected to lose up to $9M in 2021, CEO says

    Mickey Djuric · CBC News · Posted: Jan 29, 2021

    The Regina International Airport is looking for financial aid from the federal government as further travel restrictions continue to have an impact on the airport authority’s finances. (Kirk Fraser/CBC)

    The Regina International Airport is likely to face further challenges following Friday’s announcement by Canadian airlines that are cancelling service to sun destinations.

    Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat have agreed to suspend service to the Caribbean and Mexico until the end of April, as the federal government introduces new mandatory quarantine rules in an effort to fight the spread of COVID-19.

    While there have been no direct flights from Regina to sun destinations during the pandemic, the loss of service will still affect Regina air travellers. 

    “Even though we have these massive reductions in our passenger demand, we do still have a little bit of service left to Canadian hubs like Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto,” said James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority. 

    “This will further erode the demand to go to those hubs if those customers were planning to depart from one of those destinations.”

    Ed Sims, president and CEO of WestJet, said the federal government asked the airlines to temporarily halt some of their flights.

    “The government asked, and we agreed,” said Sims.

    “While we know that air travel is responsible for less than two per cent of cases since the start of the crisis, and even less today, we recognize the government of Canada’s ask is a precautionary measure.”

    WATCH | Prime minister introduces new restrictions for international travel:

    ‘Don’t have much left to cut’

    Bogusz says the Regina Airport Authority has been petitioning the federal government for months for some financial support. 

    “We’ve already done our part,” he said. 

    Passenger traffic at the Regina airport has been reduced to 10 per cent of normal, resulting in over 30 per cent of airport staff getting laid off, Bogusz said.

    “We’ve burned through our cash, we’re now working through our credit line,” he said. “So we don’t have much left to cut, frankly.”

    The airport is also losing its ability to self-fund its operations.

    “We can not sell enough parking or sandwiches, and we certainly don’t have enough planes landing to be able to meet our most basic operating needs.”

    The federal government has provided the Regina airport with a wage subsidy and rent relief, but Bogusz says it’s not enough. He did not disclose how much aid the airport is looking for, but said the airport has lost millions since the COVID-19 pandemic started. 

    ‘We can not sell enough parking or sandwiches, and we certainly don’t have enough planes landing to be able to meet our most basic operating needs,’ said James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority. (Neil Cochrane/CBC)

    “On the operations side, we’ve lost well over $6 million in 2020. We haven’t done our year-end, but we’re projected to lose $8 to $9 million in 2021 operating revenue. That’s what we [use to] pay our power bills, that’s how we pay our staff, that’s how we pay our property taxes, amongst all our other expenses.”

    Aviation industry pleads for aid

    On Thursday, aviation industry representatives pleaded with MPs on the House of Commons transportation committee for direct aid for alines.  

    Mike Mueller, senior vice-president of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, warned that Canadian companies would struggle to compete in the future with businesses in countries like France, the U.S., and Germany — which have spent billions of dollars on bailouts for airlines and related companies.

    Bogusz says airports are also going to need some type of bailout in order to survive. 

    “We’re asking the federal government to support those core operations costs just until they can start encouraging Canadians to travel again,” Bogusz said.

    “But until then there is no other source of revenue we can pull, and as we fall further into debt it becomes an impossible situation for our airport, because those debt levels are going to be nearly impossible to repay.”

    WATCH | Airline workers on Parliament Hill call for help from federal government:

    With files from Sharon Gerein, Catharine Tunney and Ryan Patrick Jones

  • Regina airport traffic control tower in question after NAV Canada announces layoffs

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard, Global News | January 28, 2021 3:22

    Regina Airport Authority lost its property tax exemptions, and it says that could increase ticket costs for passengers.
    Regina Airport Authority James Bogusz said he will be reaching out to Canada’s minister of transport requesting that his office intervenes immediately to stop the process. File / Global News

    Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz said he recently became aware Thursday afternoon that NAV Canada had issued layoff notices to more than 100 air controllers across the country, including 10 in the Queen City.

    The Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), the union that represents all air traffic controllers in the country, announced the news in a press release on Thursday.

    Bogusz said NAV Canada told him in November 2020 that it would be reviewing the situation to determine if it would be keeping Regina’s air traffic control tower on site.

    “Our airport just underwent its consultation less than two weeks ago,” Bogusz said

    “We are terribly disappointed that these notices have been issued to air traffic control towers when they’re still in their early stages of the review process.

    “I’d go as far to say we feel that based on these notices being issued, the entire process is tainted.”

    According to CATCA president and CEO Doug Best, a total of 110 controllers were issued layoff notices since last month.

    “We understand that NAV Canada has seen a significant decline in revenue due to the pandemic and it needs to find efficiencies, but we can’t allow public safety to be compromised,” CATCA president and CEO Doug Best said.

    “Air traffic control is known to be one of the most demanding and high-stress professions going. NAV Canada’s cuts will only mount added pressure on the essential workers who keep our skies safe.”

    Bogusz said he doesn’t know how many staff members will be laid off at the Regina airport but admits it was something he expected to see coming further down the road.

    “We’ve been incredibly vocal on this since we heard about this service level review process going forward … but to be done so early in the process once again tells us that this process was not what we were told,” Bogusz said.

    Bogusz said he will be reaching out to Canada’s minister of transport requesting that his office intervenes immediately to stop the process.

    Layoffs are also coming at four area control centres in Gander, N.L., Moncton, N.B., Montreal and Edmonton, and at air traffic control towers in St-Jean, Que., Windsor, Ont., Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Regina, Fort McMurray, Alta., Prince George, B.C., and Whitehorse, Yukon according to CATCA.

  • Regina Airport Authority CEO pushing against YQR flight control tower closure

    From 680CKRM – link to source story

    Photo: Mackenzie Read

    By Josh Sigurdson | 14 January 2021

    The proposed closure of the air traffic control tower at the Regina International Airport would be devasting, says the Airport CEO.

    James Bogusz says for the airport to have any hope of seeing pre-pandemic flight volumes return to YQR, the tower needs to be in place.

    The discussion comes after NavCanada notified YQR that due to historically low air traffic caused by the pandemic, they would review whether or not to close YQR’s tower.

    Bogusz says he understands the impact COVID-19 has had on the aviation industry, but they need to look long term.

    “As the capital city of Saskatchewan, and one that was certainly a growing airport in the past, and we fully anticipate being there again, it’s critical to have major pieces of infrastructure, like this airport, have active air traffic control management,” said Bogusz. “The fact is when you lose an air traffic control tower, you limit the capacity of the airport to how many things can be happening at once.”

    Bogusz says limiting the capacity of the airport by closing the tower would be detrimental to the growth in the province.

    “Regina is a growing city, the province of Saskatchewan, the City of Regina, they’re very aligned in the fact that we want to attract more residents to our city, our population is growing,” said Bogusz. “The last thing we want is to have a control tower close now, while we’ve got a downturn in aviation, because it will be very difficult to have a comeback.”

    Bogusz says he wants to emphasize that NavCan isn’t the bad guy here, they’re only trying to make the best of a bad situation. His concern is that no one is looking past the pandemic.

    “Their hand is forced, like us here in the airport, the revenues just aren’t coming in right now,” said Bogusz. “We have to look past Covid, we’re going to be out of this pandemic in the future, aviation will recover, and I don’t know about you, but I can tell you this airport is going to be a big part of that recovery, and I don’t want to lose what we had before the pandemic.”

    He says he appreciates the support from the community over the closure of the tower and encourages people to continue to write the Federal Transport Minister advocating against the closure.

  • Looming Air Canada cuts cause concern for Regina Airport Authority

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard, Global News | January 13, 2021

    With looming Air Canada cuts, Regina Aiport Authority can't help but be concerned about its operations moving forward as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
    With looming Air Canada cuts, Regina Aiport Authority can’t help but be concerned about its operations moving forward as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Derek Putz / Global News

    Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz describes Air Canada’s plan to slash about 1,700 jobs as “concerning.”

    Air Canada announced Wednesday it would be cutting its capacity by 25 per cent across the country.

    “People listen to the travel advice as they should, “Bogusz said. “The problem is, it devastates the industry. There’s no immediate impact (in Regina), but just at a macro level, it’s very concerning.”

    Air Canada has already pulled out flights in several Canadian provinces including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

    “We’re (Regina) already down to, in some days, three flights, four flight, five flights. I mean, we don’t have much left,” Bogusz said.

    “I’m not anticipating Air Canada to pull out of Regina altogether, but we have to consider that this time of year we would normally be at 25 to 27 flights.

    “This is getting to the point in the Canadian aviation system where there’s just not as much happening and where airlines, for business reasons, are having to pull out of many cities across our country.”

    Lucie Guillemette, Air Canada’s executive vice-president, said the cuts reflect the enhanced travel rules, “in addition to the existing quarantine requirements,” and have had an “immediate impact” on bookings.

    “(We) have made the difficult but necessary decision to further adjust our schedule and rationalize our transborder, Caribbean and domestic routes to better reflect expected demand and to reduce cash burn,” Guillemette said in a statement.

    Bogusz said he expects things to eventually recover, but with the current policies in place in terms of health protocols and without significant financial help from the federal government, it’s been tough to see things in a positive light.

    WestJet announced it would reduce its workforce capacity by 1,000 employees in an attempt to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic on Friday.

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about WestJet’s cuts last week and pointed out the $1.5 billion in aid for the aviation industry through the federal wage subsidy and other relief measures.

    Trudeau said there are ongoing discussions regarding industry-specific support packages, but that is contingent on carriers providing refunds to passengers whose flights were cancelled.

    “People shouldn’t be travelling, and that of course is a direct challenge for the airline industry to manage through,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.

    “At the same time we’ve made it very clear that we expect people to be reimbursed (for cancelled flights), we expect regional routes to be protected… We expect certain things from the airline industry.”

    Bogusz mentioned he would like to see rapid testing introduced for travellers, something currently being pushed by airports and airlines.

    “If we lose the summer in terms of not having Canadians travel within our own country, it’s going to be worse than we had in 2020 because you can’t have two years in a row where nobody’s making any money,” Bogusz said.

    The Regina airport dropped down to just 15 per cent of its usual passenger traffic in December.

    All of 2020 saw about 30 per cent of the airport’s normal levels, according to Bogusz.

    — With files from Global News’ Rachael D’Amore, Katie Dangerfield, Allison Bamford and The Canadian Press.

    © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • Plane lands at Regina International Airport without deploying landing gear

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard  Global News | January 12, 2021

    A private Piper 42 aircraft landed on Regina International Airport's main runway without deploying its landing gear on Tuesday morning.
    A private Piper 42 aircraft landed on Regina International Airport’s main runway without deploying its landing gear on Tuesday morning. Adrian Raaber / Global News

    A small aircraft landed on the main runway of Regina International Airport without deploying its landing gear early Tuesday morning.

    Jams Bogusz, Regina Airport Authority president and CEO, said it was a private Piper 42 aircraft and that it happened at about 10:30 a.m.

    He said the pilot was the only person aboard the aircraft and did not suffer any injuries.

    The pilot of the plane did not suffer any injuries.
    The pilot of the plane did not suffer any injuries. Adrian Raaber / Global News

    “On-site firefighters responded immediately. The Transportation Safety Board cleared the plane to be towed away and it was removed from the main runaway just before 1 p.m.,” Bogusz said.

    Bogusz said it’s unclear what went wrong and that no flights were delayed due to the landing.© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • ‘Catastrophic reduction’: Regina airport grapples with financial challenges, reduced travel demand

    From Global News – link to source story and video

    By Allison Bamford  Global News | January 8, 2021

    The Regina International Airport experienced a “catastrophic reduction” in the number of passengers that went through its doors in 2020 as pandemic restrictions dampened demand for travel.

    While those numbers are expected to improve in 2021, the financial hardships aren’t going away.

    “The good news is people are listening to those travel recommendations,” said Regina Airport Authority president and CEO James Bogusz.

    “The bad news is we don’t have any revenue coming in to actually pay our costs.”

    The Regina airport dropped down to just 15 per cent of its usual passenger traffic in December. All of 2020 saw about 30 per cent of the airport’s normal levels, according to Bogusz.

    The airport authority makes its money off of passenger fees tacked onto things such as travel, parking and rentals.

    Fewer passengers means less revenue.

    Typically the airport generates about $30 million a year, according to Bogusz, which is just slightly more than its costs.

    Even with trimming expenses by about 30 per cent — coming in the form of layoffs, operating budget reductions and capital program alterations — the airport authority is expected to lose about $6 million from 2020.

    Assuming travel picks up this year, the CEO says 2021 will likely end with the airport losing another $4 million.

    Accumulating $10 million in debt would be “absolutely unsustainable,” according to Bogusz.

    “We have made our cuts already, we have really reduced down to a relatively bare-bones operation, making sure though we maintain levels of safety, security and all our regulatory obligations,” he said.

    “That’s why we’ve gone to Ottawa.”

    In the fall economic statement, the federal government said it earmarked $65 million for airport authorities “to further assist airports to manage the financial implications of reduced air travel.”

    While Bogusz says he doesn’t know how or when those funds will be distributed, he’s asked Ottawa to help offset the revenue losses in order to cover the bills and pay staff.

    “We can’t increase the cost to travel. We can’t be in a position to drive up costs to airlines who are also struggling,” Bogusz said.

    “If we’re crippled with heavy debt and our fees are up, we’re not going to be competitive.”

    In a statement to Global News, Transport Canada says it’s “currently working on next steps and is actively engaging with stakeholders.”

    Transport Canada did not provide a timeline as to when the funds would be allocated.Click to play video 'NAV Canada could scale back operations at Regina airport following review'NAV Canada could scale back operations at Regina airport following review – Nov 26, 2020

    © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • Mishap involving catering truck and plane causes flight delays at Regina airport

    From Global News – link to source story

    By Jonathan Guignard  Global News | January 8, 2021

    Air Canada flights from Regina to Vancouver and Toronto were delayed Friday morning after a catering truck got stuck under the nose of a CRJ900 aircraft at the Regina airport.
    Air Canada flights from Regina to Vancouver and Toronto were delayed Friday morning after a catering truck got stuck under the nose of a CRJ900 aircraft at the Regina airport. Provided / Riley Park

    Two flights at the Regina airport experienced delays on Friday after a catering truck got stuck under the nose of a CRJ900 aircraft.

    The truck was stocking the plane with supplies at around 6 a.m. before getting caught underneath the aircraft, lifting up the nose of the jet, according to the Airport Authority.

    Crews had to use a crane to move the Air Canada jet off of the catering truck. “Ground operating equipment — whether it be tags for luggage, catering vehicles … there can be [times] where you may have some sort of conflict, but I wouldn’t say this is a regular occurrence,” said James Bogusz, Regina Airport Authority president and CEO.

    “Certainly not one that would delay an aircraft for a few hours.”

    Air Canada confirmed that delayed flights were to Vancouver and Toronto. Its maintenance team is inspecting the plane for damage.

    “No passengers were onboard at the time of the incident,” Air Canada said in a statement emailed to Global News on Friday. “We sincerely apologize to our passengers for the disruptions.”

    © 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

  • Sask. airports see slow traffic for holidays

    From CBC News – link to source story

    Traffic dropped severely at the Regina airport in April to lowest point ever

    CBC News · Posted: Jan 05, 2021

    Two major airports in Saskatchewan say there were not very many people traveling over the holidays compared to last year. (John Hill/Twitter)

    Saskatchewan’s two largest airports say traffic is still incredibly slow. 

    The most recent complete data for the Saskatoon International Airport is from November 2020. It shows an 85 per cent reduction in passenger traffic compared to November 2019. 

    “We have not seen an increase in traffic since August, and have been down month-over-month since then,” CJ Dushinski, vice president, business development and service quality at the Saskatoon airport, said in an email. 

    “On average in December 2020 we had approx. 300 departing passengers per day, compared to over 2,000 departing passengers/day in 2019.”

    James Bogusz, president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, said that airport is in a similar situation. 

    Traffic dropped severely in April to the lowest point the airport had ever seen. It then climbed a bit in the summer. Now, Bogusz said it’s dropping again. 

    “We had certainly, of course, our slowest Christmas on record,” he said in an interview. “Given that Christmas and January and February are typically our busiest months, it’s been a huge blow.”

    Pre-pandemic, the Regina Airport Authority employed 55 to 57 people in the winter and 50 year-round. 

    “Unfortunately, now we’re down to 40, so we’ve had a dramatic decrease in our own staffing,” Bogusz said.

    Travel guidelines on the province’s website state that interprovincial travel should be limited and that international travel is not recommended at this time.