President and CEO of the Regina International Airport Authority James Bogusz attended a meeting held by the Estevan Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, and discussed the airport’s future plans regarding expansion, and serving the people in surrounding communities.
The discussion focused largely on plans, which the airport has developed to maintain competitiveness in the market, while making steps towards increasing ease of use for passengers in the airport’s facilities. He also touched on the possibility of making travel out of Regina International more viable for people in the Estevan area.
Unfortunately, there are no current plans for the addition of later flights; this is due to the airlines, and not the airport, Bogusz explained.
When asked by a member of the audience if later flights would be an option, as it is difficult for a family with young children to leave the city at 3 a.m. for a 6 a.m. flight, Bogusz explained that the airlines decide the flight times based off of the ability to link those flights to major destination hubs, which in turn allows the airline to make a larger profit.
The discussion also focused on long-term goals for the airport, which included the leasing of land to businesses in the area. A deal was recently made between the airport and Canada Post, who will be building a 50,000-square foot mail-distribution facility on airport property in the near future.
“The economic impact of an airport can not be understated,” said Bogusz.
“In 2015, when we did our last economic impact study, we found that the value of an airport in a region of our size is over $800 million per year, of both direct and induced benefit to our community.”
It was also noted during the presentation that Regina International Airport is the 15th busiest airport in the country, in terms of passenger traffic, and accounts for six per cent of Regina’s GDP in just one business, showing the direct impact an airport can have on a community, and its economy.
“Last year was the first year in many that we saw a decrease in passenger numbers,” said Bogusz.
“We were down 3 1/2 per cent … now the good news is, this year things have changed. Year to date, rather than being down 3 1/2 percent, we are up two per cent ... so it’s really good that we are seeing a rebound in passenger traffic.”
Also discussed during the meeting was the airport’s intent to make the facility easier to navigate for customers, and the plans for interior renovations.
“One big thing we’re doing is improving the experience past airport security,” said Bogusz.
“So if you come to the airport today, by the baggage area it’s quite bright and nice, you can walk through and check in quite easily… but after security, that’s when the experience is not so great.
It’s a little dated…but the challenge we have is a very limited offering for food service…we also have a very limited Tim Horton’s service beyond security…what we recognize is that with growth we need to find better ways to create facilities past security, because most of our customers don’t eat before security…they want to get to their gate and find food.”
The airport has devised a plan to move the current security area to the current location of the food court. This move will allow the airport to move passengers through the security area faster, while at the same time allowing for a larger food-court and shopping area to be built in the former security area.
Another key area of concern is the reintroduction of year-round flight service to the United States, an issue the airport has faced for several years.
“One of the top priorities our board has shared with me, was the importance of what we are doing about the U.S. flight issue,” said Bogusz.
“It’s top of mind in the business community, not just in Regina, but for many. So with that in mind I booked a flight, I went to Chicago, and met with United Airlines representatives in their head office, we had a discussion about why they left the market, and what we can do to get them back.”
Bogusz said that the airport’s current plan is to go from being a “small and modest” airport, to something in the realm of “medium and modest.”
