The Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport. (Staff photo)
The CEO of the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM) says it’s essential for Ottawa to remove federal pandemic restrictions which prohibit international flights at smaller airports.
Bernard LeBlanc says Moncton remains one of 13 airports across the country in the same position including airports in Saint John, Fredericton and Charlottetown.
Winter sunshine destination flights had to be cancelled again this year due to the international restrictions which means the airport will lose between $800,000 and $1 million in revenue.
“We really want that activity back in 2023. I think our region really supports it strongly and for the airport it’s a really good value-added service we can offer,” notes LeBlanc.
The airport needs to recover passenger traffic and he says it’s possible sunshine flights could resume this fall if the airlines are interested.
He adds many people are still travelling, it just means having to fly to a larger airport for connections.
Halifax and St. John’s, NL are currently the only two airports in Atlantic Canada which can accept international flights.
