Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Ashley Legassic

COVID-19

Air Canada to temporarily stop operations for Kamloops routes

Mar 19, 2020 | 10:45 AM

KAMLOOPS — Local airports are beginning to feel the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kamloops Airport Managing Director Ed Ratuski says Fulton Field received word last night that Air Canada would be reducing its domestic services.

“Over the next week or so, Air Canada will temporarily cease operations between Kamloops and Calgary, and Kamloops and Vancouver for the month of April. That was the news we received from Air Canada last evening,” Ratuski says. “Right now WestJet is intending to continue serving all of the Canadian markets that they currently serve, we do expect there to be less frequencies and once we know what those frequencies will be made public as well.”

Ratuski says passenger numbers through Kamloops Airport have dropped dramatically over the past two weeks.

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“Especially since Sun Peaks closed on Wednesday, that’s when we see the outbound travellers start to taper off and then the inbound flights, as well we’re seeing dramatic decreases in passengers coming off those flights, it’s mostly people coming home per the government’s directions,” Ratuski says.

He adds that the airport will remain open during the pandemic.

“We have an obligation to keep the airport running in a safe and secure environment even though the commercial-scheduled passenger traffic is dropping off significantly, we still have cargo operations, medivacs and remember this is the primary site for the BC Wildfire Service as well.”

Food and beverage options have also been reduced at the airport due to the number of passengers dropping off. Ratuski says once there are fewer passengers throughout the month of April, the airport will work with the food and beverage service provider to accommodate accordingly.

“There have been (layoffs) with some of our service partners in terms of the airlines and some of the other service providers on the airport,” Ratuski says. “We’re also working with our employee group to make sure that we’re respecting the team members’ needs as well.”

Ratuski is urging travellers who are trying to cancel flights to contact their airline directly instead of trying to contact the airport.

“The one thing we’re telling people that are calling us, just to be patient with the airlines,” he says. “This is a trying time for them so that’s what they need to do, is either take care of their flight cancellations and that type of information online, or definitely they’re going to have to wait for the airlines to respond via telephone.”

On a different note, Kamloops Airport is making parking free for the first hour to encourage people to stay in their cars while waiting to pick up passengers.