Airport Optimistic About Pandemic Recovery

Officials at the Saint John Airport (YSJ) say they are optimistic about the road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passenger traffic at the airport — like others across the country — has been down over the past two years.

But things slowly started turning around late last June as the first post-pandemic flight landed at the airport.

In recent weeks, Swoop Airlines announced it would arrive at YSJ on May 12 with flights four times a week to Toronto.

Flair Airlines also unveiled a new route from Saint John to the Kitchener-Waterloo Airport in Ontario starting June 8.

Mark Bettle, chair of the airport’s board of directors, said he thinks demand will ramp up quickly as more restrictions are loosened.

“I think what we’re seeing is a huge pent-up demand in leisure travel. I think there will be scramble for travel as things are opening up,” said Bettle.

“I think within Canada, it’s fair game. Outside Canada, it’s a bit more restrictive, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Bettle said the business side appears to be slower, but he thinks it will come as travel becomes safer and restrictions become fewer.

As for when international travel measures will be lifted, the member of Parliament for Saint John-Rothesay believes it will be sooner rather than later.

Wayne Long said he has been advocating for a return to normal — but only when public health officials say so.

“I don’t really have a timeline, but I believe that we’re certainly moving in the right direction. My expectation is that we will see a rollback of things sooner rather than later,” said Long.