REGINA – The numbers are in, and it appears Regina International Airport is playing a bigger role in the local economy.
A study commissioned by the Regina Airport Authority shows YQR is responsible for eight per cent of the city’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, about $746-million.
“Everyone that works here has a stake in success of the Airport in Regina and southern Saskatchewan,” said Jim Hunter, president and CEO of Regina Airport Authority.
In terms of traffic, over 3,000 passengers are boarding flights every day. The study shows that number has grown for eight straight years.
Part of the uptake is being attributed to recent expansion and redevelopment, but officials acknowledge there’s always room to do more.
There’s still no public transit service to YQR, with plans still five to 10 years down the road.
Travelers are also calling for more flights, which the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce would like to see sooner rather than later.
“Business people say more flights to Toronto, more flights to the United States,” said John Hopkins, Chamber CEO.
The Airport Authority says there are no new flights on the horizon yet, outside of Westjet’s Encore service beginning in 2014.
But officials are boasting the success of flights south of the border that are already in place.
“I would suggest both Denver and Minneapolis offer great connections,” said Hunter. “We have our one-a-day Chicago flight as well, which in about five days time will start originating from Regina.”
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