The Lethbridge Airport has recently undergone renovations, but its only airline provider, WestJet, has announced plans to reduce its services to just one flight per day. According to Jared Mikoch-Gerke, director of alliances and airport affairs with WestJet, this change was originally scheduled for October 3, but has already begun as of October 1. The mayor of Lethbridge, Blaine Hyggen, expressed concern that without a fully functioning airport, airlines may not be interested in serving the community. This situation, according to WestJet, is not unique to Lethbridge, as many markets are seeing similar reductions in service.
WestJet has transitioned from working with Pacific Coastal to using WestJet Encore with a Q400 aircraft. The Q400 offers more seats, with 78 available compared to the previous 34-seater planes. However, even with the increased capacity, the new schedule only offers approximately two-thirds of the previous passenger capacity. Karl Moore, a professor at McGill University, believes that this shift was inevitable due to the limited demand for flights in a smaller city like Lethbridge. While there is a place for smaller airports in Canada, he doubts that residents of larger cities like Calgary would be willing to travel to Lethbridge for flight services, even with additional destinations available.
Currently, the only destination available from Lethbridge is Calgary, prompting many travelers to opt for the two-hour drive to the larger airport. However, WestJet aims to improve the connectivity for passengers traveling from Lethbridge to make connecting flights from Calgary to other destinations in Canada and the United States. Despite concerns about the reduced flight schedule, some members of Lethbridge’s business community are optimistic about the change. Dominka Wojcik, senior director of communications with Tourism Lethbridge, is excited about the prospect of larger planes that can accommodate more passengers and run on schedule.
Fortunately, there are no anticipated layoffs for airport employees in Lethbridge. Airport manager Cameron Prince reassured that there are enough tasks to keep everyone employed, regardless of the number of flights. Mayor Hyggen remains positive about the situation, noting that WestJet has committed to monitoring the situation and making adjustments as needed. He believes there is potential to increase traffic in the future and is confident that the future of Lethbridge Airport is not in immediate jeopardy. Despite the challenges, the community remains hopeful that the changes will lead to a stronger and more efficient airport operation in the long run.
