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Winnipeg airport receiving nearly $13M from federal government

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WINNIPEG -

The Winnipeg Richardson International Airport is receiving millions in federal funding to help it recover from the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced $12.7 million in funding for the airport Tuesday morning.

Of the funds, $7 million is being set aside for infrastructure improvements, including rehabilitation of the taxiway.

The remaining $5.7 million will come from Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund to help maintain airport operations.

"Canada's airports are major contributors to our economy, and play a crucial role in sustaining the social and economic well-being of our communities,” Alghabra said in a statement. “This financial support will ensure that, as Canada works towards recovery and travel restart post-pandemic, the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport will be able to provide regional accessibility, and safe, reliable and efficient air services for residents and workers in Winnipeg and its surrounding communities."

The funding comes as the Winnipeg Airport Authority reported it has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting a net loss of $40.3 million due to a decline in air travellers.

Barry Rempel, president and CEO of WAA, said Tuesday’s announcement is an important step for the airport’s recovery.

“There is incredible optimism today in our industry for the first time in a very long while,” he said. “We are seeing domestic traffic slowly increasing, especially now that we’re allowed to get international flights back. We’re expecting that to steadily climb in the years to come.”

Rempel said before the pandemic, the airport averaged 12.500 passengers per day.

In the worst days of the pandemic, the number dropped to an average of 100 per day.

-With files from CTV's Jeff Keele and Simon Stones

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