Business View Magazine | Volume 9, Issue 3

196 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 pandemic hit it changed everything. In 2019, we were moving over 279,000 passengers which is not bad for an airport of this size serving a catchment area of about 60,000 people. January and February 2020 were very strong with record numbers and then by May we were down to about 1000 passengers per month. We still had commercial service at that time, but where we had been doing ten turns a day to Vancouver, Prince George, and Edmonton, we were now down to one flight to Vancouver daily. Then slowly we have been building back up. WestJet began service to Calgary again and now we have plateaued at about six flights a day. At the same time, charter service and medivac flights increased over that same period.” Because of the newer terminal, North Peace did not have to deal with all the pandemic precautions in terms of retrofitting equipment – their HVAC already could filter and circulate air, but the frequency of circulation was increased lease agreement, and they have been essential in transitioning the airport from public to private management. The airport became profitable in its second year of private ownership and Vantage is also responsible for over $8.4 million worth of capital development projects, including a 30,100 square foot terminal renovation in 2007 that makes the airport capable of handling up to 500,000 annual passengers. Unlike many airports, the prevalence of the oil and gas industry in the Peace River region means that helicopter service is essential, and there are no less than six such companies based out of YXJ – Canadian Helicopter Services, Bailey’s, Yellowhead, Qwest, Heli-Source, and Interior Helicopters. Speaking to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Karsseboom recalls, “In March of 2020, our commercial service dropped off, especially from a tourism perspective. When the Plan your visit https://www.fortstjohn.ca/EN/main/community/about- fort-st-john/visitor-services.html B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A