Airport passenger numbers lowest in 45 years

It was an unfortunate record-setting year in 2020 for the Charlottetown Airport Authority.

On Wednesday, the airport reported that only 71,480 passengers were serviced in 2020 - an 81-per-cent decline compared to 2019 and the lowest number of passengers in the past 45 years. Prior to 2020, the airport would see more than 383,000 passengers, which resulted in $103 million in total economic activity for the province, according to a press release.

"I have always said that there are a lot of factors that will influence passenger movements up or down, many of which are out of our control. What we went through in 2020 with COVID-19 is a perfect example of that," said Doug Newson, CEO of the Charlottetown Airport Authority. "The hardest thing about the past year was to see firsthand how much the pandemic has impacted the lives of so many great people that work at the Charlottetown Airport, and those that rely on efficient air access for our province. We know that we will recover from COVID19, and will be here to serve our passengers and our community when the time is right, but we also know it is going to take time to rebuild air access for Prince Edward Island."

The year started out with plans to add additional passenger services with a WestJet service to Calgary, a Swoop service to Hamilton and a Flair service to Toronto.

But due to COVID-19, the airport currently has only one daily Air Canada passenger flight to and from Montreal, a 50-seat regional jet.

From April to December, only 20,727 people passed through - a 94-per-cent decline compared to 2019 - which has had a devestating financial impact on the airport.