Airports should be essential service: CBU prof
SYDNEY — Canada's community airports should be considered essential services by the federal government, not unlike how railways were viewed some 200 years ago.
That's the view of Cape Breton University business professor George Karaphillis in light of news that the last scheduled commercial flight out of Sydney will depart on Jan. 11.
“They wanted to connect the country. Now, in these days the airline is our railway,” said the dean of the Shannon School of Business
“The flights are our railway. That's where we are. This is why Air Canada used to be a Crown corporation. The government of the day recognized that air travel was an essential service. It was necessary to unite the country and to make sure all parts of the country were getting developed.”
It was of no surprise to Karaphillis that Air Canada ended services to smaller airports like Sydney after losses of over $3 billion so far this year, including almost half a billion dollars in their third quarter alone.
“I believe Air Canada was hanging on because they thought they would be getting some kind of help from the federal government to keep the airports going and a minimum number of flights,” he said.
“They thought they would be getting some help by now. It is just very late coming.”
In Cape Breton, an end to commercial flights will have many and varied impacts on the island's economy. The tourism impacts are obvious
but the loss of daily service will also impact the island's emerging knowledge sector organizations.
“This is something that is going to hurt us,” he said. “You need quick and efficient movement of people to allow the exchange of ideas and resources. Person-to-person interaction is very important. That's how you build relationships with people.”
Hospitals who might need to fly in specialized technicians at a moment's notice will also be impacted, as will rotational workers flying from here to employment in western provinces.
At Cape Breton University, a joint call for federal help for the airport has been issued by Students' Union President Amrinder Singh and CBU President David Dingwall.
Singh said an airport so close to the school factored largely in his decision to come to Cape Breton from India last spring.
“Believe it or not it is one of the biggest factors, not just for me but a lot of international students when they make their decision as to which university they will go to study,” he said.
“It makes the decision very easy where they have to go in, to know there is an airport a few kilometres away from home or the university.”
Being far away from home is not easy for international students but an airport close by offers a sense of security.
Many current and future students have already reached out to Singh with concerns over the loss of air service, including those now studying online who worry about how they will return to CBU once travel restrictions are lifted.
Singh said the students' union has been proactive on this issue since word that the Sydney airport was on Air Canada's potential cut list.
A meeting with area MPs and community stakeholders has already taken place and advocacy efforts for a return of the Sydney air service will continue.
“A lot of work has been done and efforts have been made from CBU and CBU students to change Cape Breton,” Singh said.
“The population has changed for the first time and so many businesses have opened up. I believe if this airport is gone all the work that has been done to develop our community culturally and economically will count for nothing. I hope our leaders from the federal government deliver now.”
Karaphillis said airlines have estimated somewhere between $5-$10 billion is needed to offer a minimum level of service after the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a catastrophic business environment. With the federal government set to run a $400 billion deficit this year, he said it makes sense for them to also assist the airlines.
“Nobody planned for this. You can't blame the airlines because they couldn't have planned for this,” the professor said.
“It makes sense from a public policy point of view to at least offer a basic service like one flight to Halifax maybe. There should be one flight. Basically, get to Halifax and from there you can get to Toronto at least.”
The federal government's Fall Economic Update included assistance for regional airports. Cape Breton MPs Jamie Battiste and Mike Kelloway have both stated they have reached out to federal cabinet ministers who have suggested assistance for airlines is in the works.