REGINA - Regina Airport Authority has announced confirmation from Transport Canada that the airport will maintain its international designation until at least March of 2023.
The airport also states in a news release that Transport Canada will be providing information on the process to maintain this designation beyond 2023.
The news is welcome for the airport, which sees the designation as crucial for YQR.
“As the 15th busiest airport in the country and the airport for the capital city of Saskatchewan, it’s critical that Regina have an international airport designation,” said James Bogusz, president and CEO, Regina Airport Authority, in a statement.
“This international designation increases the prominence of the airport and will help grow business opportunities in all southern Saskatchewan.”
The Regina airport had its “international” designation taken away in January 2021 during the pandemic, as the federal government removed many airports, from the list.
The airport states that while it was able to resume transborder, Mexico, and Caribbean flights at the end of 2021, this “official designation aids in YQR’s marketing efforts to receive international flights, attract new routes, maintain capacity for border processing and help grow international business in southern Saskatchewan.”
“While it is good to see the return of the designation, it should have never been removed by the federal government in the first place,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said in a statement. “As the airport for our province’s capital city, it is critical that YQR be able to provide our businesses and residents with a greater choice of destinations and the international designation will support that.”
