Fredericton International Airport Capacity Nearly Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels
FREDERICTON – The Fredericton International Airport (YFC) has reached 92 per cent capacity compared to pre-pandemic levels. Having larger aircrafts and new routes going out of YFC, Kate O’Rourke, manager of public relations and marketing of the Fredericton International Airport Authority, says that they are on track to remain in the 90-95 per cent range all summer.
O’Rourke says that this means that there are 92 per cent of the number of seats coming in and out of the YFC in comparison to pre-pandemic times.
“I would say for the remainder of 2023, we’re looking to be in that 90-95 per cent capacity range,” O’Rourke tells Huddle. “And really what the challenge is for airlines is largely human resources, like a lot of industries.”
O’Rourke says that it is not a demand issue for flights out of YFC that is preventing them from reaching that 100 per cent, but more so a need for workers just network wide.
This summer, there are some changes that can be seen to flights routes. In a recent press release, it is said that this is something that airports all across Canada expect to continue.
Currently, there are four airlines flying in and out of the YFC. These include Air Canada, Porter Airlines, Sunwing, and a new company called Lynx Air.
Air Canada and Porter Airlines are both offering twice daily flights to a variety of locaitons. However, O’Rourke says that Air Canada has had to cut out their Halifax route and Ottawa route that would have been offered pre-pandemic, but will be offering flights to Toronto’s Pearson Airport three times daily starting August 2.
“[The Sunwing flights] did really well this year, because of those crew shortages they were only able to serve three destinations this year, but they’ll be back to all four next year,” says O’Rourke. These locations would be Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria, Cancun, and Punta Cana.
Along with this, YFC has a new flight company, Lynx Air, that has started flights in and out three times a week to Toronto and then on to Calgary. Lync Air is an “ultra low cost carrier” that allows people to find more affordable flights.
O’Rourke says that currently, the YFC is fully operational in regard to the businesses and services inside the airport itself.
Ryley Roach is a Huddle student intern, based in Fredericton. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected]
Editor’s note: This story was last updated a July 12, at 12:40 p.m.