A year of changes at the Regina International Airport didn’t stop a record number of people from coming through the gates in 2016.
“While total passenger numbers from last year indicate a small increase we are delighted to see a record year for passenger traffic at (Regina International Airport) in 2016,” said Dick Graham, Regina Airport Authority President and CEO, in a news release.
The airport saw a total of 1,262,899 passengers, an increase of 7,000 guests from the previous year.
The authority credited more flights and bigger planes for a 4.3 per cent jump in domestic travel. Airlines increased flights to major cities like Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto – but other routes also contributed, including NewLeaf Travel Company’s direct flights from Regina to Kelowna, B.C.
NewLeaf flights from Saskatchewan, including Regina, have since been grounded.
International flights at the airport saw a few changes last year, including the loss of Delta Air Line’s daily direct flights to Minneapolis.
The airport was able to add a seasonal direct non-stop flight to Orlando, Florida, a first for Saskatchewan.
A total of 88,000 passengers travelled to the United States from Regina in 2016, including 17,000 in the last quarter who took direct flights to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Orlando.
2016 a record year for passengers at Regina International Airport
Feb 3, 2017 | 8:07 AM