Kelowna has fastest recovering airport in Canada

Kelowna’s airport has recovered faster from the COVID-19 shutdown than any other airport in Canada.

A report going to the Airport Advisory Committee tomorrow, Oct. 28, shows that as of the end of July, the airport had recovered to 58% of its record-setting 2019 passenger numbers.

In comparison, out of the country’s 10 largest airports, Edmonton was second at 44% and Toronto last at 0% recovery.

Calgary came in at 39% and Vancouver at 33%.

The recovery comes despite the fact that Kelowna, the 10th busiest airport in the country, still has not been granted the right to offer international flights that were cancelled last year.

READ MORE: Time running out for Kelowna airport to get international status back

In 2019, a record 2,032,019 passengers flew in and out of Kelowna airport. That dropped by 64% in 2020 when air travel was virtually stopped around the world. Still, there were 737,447 passengers that year.

The report estimates there will be 840,626 passengers by the end of this year.

To date, there have been 485,135 passengers with August as the busiest month with 101,653 people flying.

To cope with the slowdown there are still nine unfilled jobs and five people are working at 80% of full-time on a workshare program that will end on Oct. 31.

The vacant positions will be “strategically” filled, over time “with a focus on generating and diversifying revenues and increasing cost efficiencies,” the report says.

Some maintenance and security work has been brought in-house rather than using contractors. Some parking lots are closed as is the valet parking service and food services have been cut back.

Given the rapid rise of passenger numbers in 2018, a new airport expansion plan was adopted that called for increasing the size of the terminal and making other major changes.

Some of that work has been delayed but things like taxiway rehabilitation have gone ahead.

READ MORE: Kelowna Airport’s expansion plans on hold due to pandemic

The airport is also looking at further developments that could include a 180-room hotel with a 1,000-vehicle parkade along with commercial and retail projects on the lands between the terminal building and Highway 97. A childcare centre for staff is also proposed.

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