In a nod to northern British Columbia's booming resource economy, the BC Aviation Council will host its annual conference in Prince George, with a focus on how regional airports can manage growth.
"Traditionally, we've held our airport forums in the southern part of the province — primarily in Metro Vancouver," said Mark Duncan, chair of the BC Aviation Council (BCAC). "But lately, we've seen exceptional passenger growth and new carriers and businesses at our northern airports as they scale up to meet the demands of energy companies and resource developers."
Airports in the region, such as Terrace's Northwest Regional Airport, have seen steady passenger growth. Between 2010 and 2013, passenger numbers at Terrace jumped 31%.
In August 2013, WestJet launched its Encore service with daily flights between Fort St. John and Calgary and Fort St. John and Vancouver.
In 2013, the Northern Development Initiative Trust, an economic development organization, funded airport upgrades throughout northern B.C., including Prince George, Masset, Anahim Lake, the District of Vanderhoof and Quesnel.
BCAC's meeting will be held in Prince George on February 26 and 27.
@jenstden
