Flying fees edging upwards at Kelowna Airport

OKANAGAN – Flying in and out of Kelowna just got a bit more expensive with council approving an across-the-board increase in operating fees at the city-owned airport.

The success of Kelowna Airport and its record passenger volumes means increased costs for maintenance, labour, utilities and technology, Noreen Redman, the airport’s corporate services manager, told council. A 1.5 per cent increase both in landing and terminal fees beginning April 1 is necessary to sustain the airport.

Redman's report to council gives the example of a Bombardier Q400 and a Boeing 737-700 and says landing fees would increase from $6.04 per 1,000 kg to $6.13, pushing the former up $2.70 and the latter $5.94.

Depending on the number of seats in both aircraft, each would also pay more for general terminal fees. Small aircraft with nine or less passengers will pay $12.58 while a large jet with over 400 passengers will pay $984. Land rental rates will also increase depending on how big the parcel is.

Coun. Ryan Donn asked Redman how the lower fees played into the airports success. “Are those the fees that keep us competive?”

Redman told council there were no objections to the increases from the airport’s stakeholder group and that the fee increase still keeps Kelowna Airport amongst the most competitve in the country for airports its size.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infotelnews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.