Airport reporting 85% drop in passengers in third quarter

The president and CEO of Winnipeg's airport says government support is needed to support the travel service.

From July 6 to September 27, the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) averaged 2,051 passengers per day in its third quarter. Typically the airport sees 13,273 during this time. This is an 85 per cent drop in users.

“Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, like the rest of Canada’s airports, continues to struggle as governments restrict travel and impose self‐isolation protocols, crippling airport revenues,” Barry  Rempel, President and CEO of WAA says.

They say the consolidated revenue for the third quarter in 2019 was  $36.1 million. In 2020 is its less than half of that at $14.3 million. YWG says for 2019, their third-quarter earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes was $18.5 million. In 2020 it is $2.6 million. Ninety per cent of the airport's revenue is linked to passenger traffic.

The airport says they have done things such as shutting down areas of the terminal, reducing staffing, and delaying capital projects to save money, but it is not enough.

“Winnipeg Richardson International Airport will be essential to this region’s economic recovery, but we can’t do it alone. Government support is required to ensure the  airport can continue to provide essential services for our community in the future.”

They say they must keep the airport open to continue to move critical goods and provide essential services throughout the pandemic while following regulatory obligations.