The Sault Ste. Marie Airport has seen a significant decrease in the number of passengers from April through September of this year due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, states a news release issued today by the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation (SSMDAC).
Over the past six months, there have been 8,652 passengers, down 92 per cent from the same period last year.
Aircraft traffic has also taken a hit, with Bearskin and Air Canada offering less flight options than in October of 2019.
According to the release, revenue for the fiscal year 2020/2021 is expected to drop by over $2 million (57 per cent) in operational costs and $1.5 million (74 per cent) in capital revenue.
Fulle text of the news release follows:
Passenger traffic April thru September 2020 totalled 8,652 passengers. This represents a decrease of 92 per cent. The past six months of traffic levels are as follows:
|
Month |
Passengers |
Change from Previous Year |
|
April |
63 |
-99.6% |
|
May |
69 |
-99.6% |
|
June |
440 |
-97.5% |
|
July |
2,112 |
-88.8% |
|
August |
3,170 |
-84.8% |
|
September |
2,798 |
-83.4% |
The Sault Ste Marie Airport Development Corporation is a private not for profit corporation that owns and operates the Sault Ste. Marie Airport. The SSMADC must self-fund all operational and capital costs with user fees, leases, and customer pay items such as car park and AIF (Airport Improvement Fee).
Aircraft traffic levels have also been greatly reduced since the onset of the pandemic the latest available data covers through July 2020 and shows the following levels for the last three months:
|
Month |
Aircraft Movements |
Change from Previous Year |
|
April |
575 |
-91.0% |
|
May |
875 |
-89.6% |
|
June |
954 |
-87.7% |
|
July |
1,245 |
-81.0% |
Bearskin Airlines is operating two flights Sunday and four daily flights Monday to Friday. Air Canada Express is offering to up to two daily flights. This continues to be a major decrease in flight options compared to October of 2019 when Air Canada was flying four daily flights, Porter had up to three daily flights, and Bearskin was flying up to seven daily flights.
Terry Bos President and CEO of the SSMADC stated, “As a result of the pandemic, revenue for fiscal year 2020/2021 is expected to drop over $2.0M operational revenue or 57 per cent and $1.5M capital revenue or 74 per cent. With the recovery period being projected to be even longer then first feared a number of difficult decisions needed to be made to better align expenses, which a number of expenses are fixed, with the projected revenue. Workforce reductions impacted total to date 45 per cent of employees.”
