Passenger traffic at the Sault's airport is continuing a slow climb towards pre-pandemic levels, but is not there yet.
The airport released its latest numbers showing passenger levels were up eight per cent in June compared to the same month last year.
However, numbers still remain down 22 per cent from pre-pandemic June 2019 levels when 17,331 passengers travelled through the airport, according to the latest stats from the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corp. (SSMADC), the private not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates the airport.
In June 2020, traffic dropped to just 440 passengers amid widespread travel restrictions in the early months of COVID-19. In June 2021, a total of 2,253 passengers used the airport. That number rose to 12,481 in June 2022. Numbers for June 2023 were 13,500.
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Year-to-date passenger levels of nearly 80,000 passengers are an increase of 52.9 per cent compared to last year, but remain down 23.6 per cent from pre-pandemic 2019 levels, the SSMADC reports.
The SSMADC says the current flights provided at the airport are:
- Air Canada Express: three flights daily as of July 1;
- Bearskin Airlines: three flights Sunday; four flights daily Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; six flights on Wednesday, schedule increased as of July 4;
- Porter: two daily flights Sunday to Friday; one daily on Saturday.
— SooToday
