Ottawa Unveils Funding For Saint John Airport

The Saint John Airport will get a financial boost from the federal government as it recovers from the impacts of the pandemic.

Officials announced Friday that the airport will receive $1.13 million through Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund.

YSJ will also get an additional $565,000 through the Airports Capital Assitance Program for airport upgrades.

“The funding I’ve announced today will help ensure that the Saint John Airport remains viable and can continue to provide Canadians with safe, reliable and efficient travel options,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said during an announcement at the airport.

While the funding was announced by the Liberal government several weeks ago, the specific details had not been released until now.

Alghabra was joined by Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long and the airport’s interim president and CEO Greg Hierlihy for the announcement.

Hierlihy said the funding is vital for the local airport, which saw its revenue numbers drop by $4.9 million in 2020 due mainly to lower passenger numbers.

Flight suspensions and COVID restrictions saw passenger volumes plummet to just over 59,000 from more than 281,000 the year before.

“We’re heavily reliant on passenger traffic to maintain our operations. We’ve suffered significant losses since COVID has begun, so this support is greatly needed to help keep us going,” said Hierlihy.

The announcement took place just as Air Canada’s inaugural reinstated direct flight to Saint John from Toronto arrived at the airport.

Alghabra said the direct Toronto-Saint John route was one of many regional routes reinstated by Air Canada due to the $5.9-billion support package provided to the airline in April.

MP Long said the strength of the Saint John Airport is key to the economic recovery across southern New Brunswick, adding that “thriving communities … typically always have a thriving airport.”

“We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure they continue to thrive,” he said.