Winnipeg Airports Authority sees passenger traffic spike in third quarter
![Winnipeg airport The Winnipeg Airport is pictured in an undated image](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2021/7/27/winnipeg-airport-1-5524858-1658786401740.png)
The Winnipeg Airports Authority saw an increase in passenger traffic in the most recent quarter – marking the first notable spike since the onset of the pandemic.
According to the organization, passenger traffic rose 157 per cent in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2020.
WAA credits this in part to increased confidence from passengers, higher vaccination levels, travel exemptions and more direct connections.
The association also noted strong improvements in August, returning to 39.7 per cent of pre-pandemic travel levels, with Winnipeg Richardson International Airport hosting 193,943 passengers.
"This summer, we witnessed families reuniting, grandparents meeting grandkids for the first time and people simply eager to see their loved ones for the first time since March 2020,” said Winnipeg Airports Authority President and CEO Barry Rempel in a news release.
“It was inspiring to see the familiar energy and buzz return to the terminal as the airport team worked diligently to ensure our community was able to experience those connections once again."
WAA said it collaborated with airlines to bring back direct routes to popular destinations, noting Air Canada returned direct flights to Montreal, Flair Airlines connected Winnipeg to Waterloo, a new destination for the airport, and Delta Airlines relaunched direct U.S. commercial passenger flights to their hub in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The association reported consolidated revenue in the third quarter of $28.3 million, versus $12.2 million in the same quarter in 2020. It credits the gains in part to $5.7 million in federal funding from the Airport Relief Fund.
While this marks a notable improvement from this time last year, WAA notes passenger traffic was still down by 60.3 per cent from the third quarter in 2019.
However, WAA said its cargo sector saw more freighters moving higher volumes of goods in and out of the region. It said the number of cargo planes landing at YWG jumped by 15 per cent and gross takeoff weight climbed by 18 per cent in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
The association said it plans to expand route options beyond Canada for the winter season with more direct routes to sun destinations expected before 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.5346613.1719853464!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
If you qualify for this tax credit, you can expect a payment in your bank account this week
The next quarterly GST/HST tax credit payment is expected to go out this week, according to the Canada Revenue Agency.
U.S. Supreme Court rules Trump has immunity for official, not private acts
The U.S. Supreme Court found on Monday that Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can for private acts, in a landmark ruling recognizing for the first time any form of presidential immunity from prosecution.
These ultraprocessed foods may shorten your life, study says
Eating higher levels of ultraprocessed food may shorten lifespans by more than 10 per cent, according to a new, unpublished study of over 500,000 people whom researchers followed for nearly three decades.
WATCH: Ode to Newfoundland rings out at emotional internment of Unknown Soldier
As part of the emotional ceremony honouring Newfoundland and Labrador's Unknown Soldier, the province's national anthem, The Ode to Newfoundland, was sung. Military members received special permission from defence officials to salute the Ode.
This 12-year-old memorized the periodic table at age two. He's heading to NYU after finishing high school in just two years
Recent high school graduate Suborno Isaac Bari, 12, plans to start studying math and physics at New York University in the fall, but he’s already got his ambitious sights set on beginning a doctoral program.
Judge calls Jeffrey Epstein 'most infamous pedophile in American history' as he releases transcripts
A Florida judge released Monday afternoon the transcripts of a 2006 grand jury investigation that looked into sex trafficking and rape allegations made against the late millionaire and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Eddie Murphy is still stung by that David Spade joke on 'Saturday Night Live'
Eddie Murphy is reflecting on some of the “cheap shots” he feels he’s taken over the years.
Possible indecent gesture at Euro 2024 game under investigation
England star Jude Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over a potentially offensive gesture made during a European Championship win against Slovakia.
On July 1, 1916, a generation of Newfoundlanders died in one brief battle
Millions are celebrating Canada’s 157th birthday this year -- as they do every year -- with fireworks, food and family. In Newfoundland, it is a day of mourning for one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War.