Year off to a flying start at Comox Valley Airport

Comox Valley Airport has got 2010 off to a flying start.

New figures show that in January, the number of passengers using the airport leapt by more than 12 per cent compared to the same month last year.

While January 2009 was a weak month for airports across the country because of the economic downturn, a year later the revival at Comox Valley Airport is better than at many other terminals.

In all, 21,681 passengers travelled through Comox Valley Airport last month compared to 19,291 in January 2009.

"Most airports have seen a good recovery, but ours is particularly strong," said the airport's chief executive officer, Shirley de Silva.

"B.C. airports like Kelowna and Kamloops are both up by around 10 per cent, although Victoria's lift is not so pronounced."

WestJet, for example, has just reported that nationally almost 79 per cent of its available seats were occupied in the month, a January record for the company.

Positive local figures were a continuation of an upswing that began last June, about three months ahead of most airports.

"Three factors seem to be at work here," says de Silva. "A steady recovery in business confidence, leading to more commercial travel to and from Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary; strong customer interest in direct winter services to Mexico, both as vacation packages and flight-only options; and some great fare offers from our carriers that have encouraged more people to choose air travel, especially to the Lower Mainland."

"Last year we started our rebound faster than most airports and our January figures are a very encouraging and pleasing continuation of that trend," de Silva added.