The turbulent relationship between Canada and the United States has had an impact on transborder flights out of Saskatoon.
At the Annual Public Meeting Wednesday morning, Saskatoon Airport Authority CEO Stephen Maybury stated that latest data shows a modest 6-10 per cent decrease of outbound flights from Saskatoon into the United States, however, every coin has two sides.
“But then, there is the net piece on more U.S. inbound (passengers) because of the foreign exchange rate…Basically the outfitters association is a great example of that. Hunters and fishers will come in, connect here to the north. The foreign exchange rate doesn’t have such an impact on them. As a matter of fact, it becomes a little bit advantageous to come north.”
Maybury says prior to the implementation of U.S. tariffs on all things Canadian, 2024 passenger numbers showed a 99 per cent recovery rate from the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2025, levels are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by about two per cent.
Despite the tumultuous state of the Canada-U.S. relationship, Maybury adds that it opens up new opportunities for domestic travel.
“The change that we anticipate in terms of trends is that more people will do more domestic travel, so we’re watching that component, as well. As well as new international options have opened up. For example, the recent announcement from WestJet with respect to their direct flight to Halifax. That opens you up to six different destinations in Europe.”
As for physical changes at the Saskatoon Airport, there are two major projects in store over the next two years.
Maybury stated that the first project is a full modernizing revamp of the airport’s arrivals hall, including a larger entrance, new escalators, and potentially videotronics.
The second project is a solar plant.
“The infrastructure is going in right now that will power 20 per cent of the terminal building. We have a subsequent plan for that to possibly phase that out again to possibly power 40 per cent of the terminal building, all to reduce out carbon footprint.”
Other, smaller, upgrades include concrete and pavement maintenance and repairs on taxiways and aprons.
Maybury says these improvements will be possible through $17 million of investments, all generated from increased passenger travel in recent years. He says 2024 passenger numbers showed a 99 per cent recovery rate from the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2025, levels are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by about two per cent.
