By Ashley Legassic

Kamloops Airport could see its best year yet for passenger growth

Oct 12, 2018 | 2:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — The number of passengers coming through the Kamloops Airport is on the up swing, and the facility is on track to having its best year yet.

More than 86,000 passengers came through the Kamloops Airport in the third quarter of this year, up roughly 22 per cent from the same time the year prior.

So far this year, nearly 257,000 passengers have come through Fulton Field, up again from the year prior by roughly 11 per cent.

“We are on track for our best year ever for passenger numbers through the Kamloops Airport,” McCarley says. “We had a strong finish last year with good recovery from the flight impacts due to the wildfire smoke, and started this year with a healthy growth trend that has continued through the summer. As it continues into the third quarter, we’re looking to have our best year ever at about 340,000 passengers for the year.”

This year, passenger numbers weren’t as affected by disruptions due to the ongoing wildfires, with only three days of commercial flight operations being affected at the airport. Flights from Kamloops to Calgary and Toronto have helped boost passenger numbers, according to the airport.

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With Greyhound discontinuing its service by the end of this month, more people could be using the airport for transportation, but McCarley says it’s too soon to tell if it will affect numbers significantly.

She adds that Kamloops Airport is also suited for more growth at Fulton Field.

“We are well positioned for growth at the Kamloops Airport,” she says. “Approximately eight or so years ago, we had an expansion of our terminal facility as well as an extension to our runway. So we’re well positioned to add additional routes and services here at the airport and we’ve got room for growth.”