Despite busy tourism season, Kamloops Airport records slow July

KAMLOOPS – A busy winter at the Kamloops Airport doesn’t mean a busy summer.

July saw fewer air passengers going through Kamloops than a year previous. That’s three months in a row with higher passenger numbers in 2015 than 2016. The low numbers are caused by the economic impact from low oil prices and the Fort McMurray wildfire, according to a Kamloops Airport media release.

However, the reconstruction effort of the northern Albertan city and more commuting oilfield workers are expected to balance that out to a certain degree this winter.

The year-to-date numbers are still above last year, though, after a strong winter season which saw tourism and sports bring thousands more people by plane than 2015. The airport had a record setting year in 2015 and followed that up with the first four months of 2016 continuing the trend.

The airport administration is also reporting a decrease in B.C. Wildfire tanker activity at the airport.

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