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Media Release - 2009 A Solid Year for the Grande Prairie Airport |
Media Release
January 26, 2010
2009 A Solid Year for the Grande Prairie Airport Record growth and frenzied construction may not be present in the area but the economic struggles of the region have not weighed significant impact on the local airport.
Year end numbers for 2009, while off a bit from the record year of 2008, confirm the Grande Prairie Airport is soundly supported. 335,075 passengers traveled through the air terminal in 2009, down 5.5% from the 2008 record year of 344,755.
Aircraft traffic numbers were down 11% from 2008 to 40,073 takeoffs and landings.
"Our 2009 movement numbers were within our projected targets", indicates Brian Grant, CEO. "We experienced rapid growth over the past five years and one always wonders if that growth is based on solid demand or an artificial demand driven by transient workforces. We are please to know that our growth has been largely due to solid regional support given that we are in recession and our numbers have not dropped below our past five year average. While some regional airports are reporting passenger movements down in the 10-12% range, Grande Prairie Airport is more in line with the large airports of Alberta with Edmonton projecting -5.6% and Calgary at -3.4%. Perhaps most significant is that aircraft usage is down due to slowed corporate and private aircraft traffic, largely reflected in the oil patch sector, something we anticipated since crew and company air charters make up a strong portion of our aircraft traffic, concludes Mr Grant".
For further information on this release you may contact Brian Grant, CEO, at 780-539-5694. |
