February air traffic rebounds from drop in January, says Airport Development Corporation

Air passenger traffic has seen a rebound from the drop in January, the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation said in a news release today. 

Levels still remain 65 per cent lower than in 2020.

“With the easing of restrictions both provincially and for travel there was an improvement over the lockdown levels of January," Terry Bos, SSMADC president and CEO stated in the release. "It is hoped that with the continued easing of restrictions and hopefully some additional easing in travel related restrictions that a positive recovery trend will start to take hold.”

For more information, see the full release below: 

Passenger traffic in February saw a rebound from the major drop seen in January; passenger levels are down over 65 per cent from 2020 level. A passenger movement comparison:

The airlines stabilized capacity in February to try and match passenger demand. The current number of flights provided by the three domestic airlines is as follows: Air Canada Express two flights daily. Bearskin Airlines two flights Sunday, five flights daily Monday and Friday; and six flights daily Tuesday to Thursday. Porter is providing one daily weekday flight, along with a Saturday departure and Sunday arrival.

2021 also saw a record number of aircraft movements, an aircraft landing or take off, at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport. The 67,725 was a 92 per cent increase from the COVID depressed 2020 movements of 35,247. It also bested the previous all time high set in 2015 of 66,806 movements. The increase in movements is due to the expanding general aviation community at the airport, the new addition of aircraft charter service with Shaire Inc., and the expanding flight training taking place at Sault Academy of Flight Inc. (SAFI) and the flag ship aviation flight training program at Sault College.

Terry Bos, SSMADC president and CEO stated: “With the easing of restrictions both provincially and for travel there was an improvement over the lockdown levels of January. It is hoped that with the continued easing of restrictions and hopefully some additional easing in travel related restrictions that a positive recovery trend will start to take hold.”