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COVID-19

Pandemic blamed for low airport passenger numbers

Apr 9, 2020 | 8:00 PM

KAMLOOPS – The Kamloops Airport saw reduced passenger numbers through the first quarter of 2020.

YKA officials say the year started out strong before the COVID-19 virus struck, dramatically impacting the number of flights and passengers passing through the airport.

Self-isolation measures were put in place in the last half of March, but the impact resulted in a reduction of nearly 38 percent in passengers when compared to March 2019. Through the first three months of the year, the number of passengers that passed through the airport fell to 91,683, an 11.2 percent drop from the first quarter of 2019.

Passenger numbers are expected to look worse over the next quarter when non-essential travel restrictions have a stronger impact.

YKA says its terminal remains open during scheduled arrival and departures periods. It reminds visitors to respect physical distancing measures.

While passenger traffic is disrupted, the Kamloops Airport continues to operate medivac, wildfire, cargo and charter flights.

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