Regina Airport back to pre-pandemic traveller numbers, annual report says [Video]

Passenger volumes have returned to near pre-pandemic levels at Regina’s International Airport (YQR).

“We’re progressing the right way,” Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz told reporters Thursday. “I just want to see it continue.”

According to its annual report, YQR saw 981,845 passengers go through its terminal in 2023, which was 217,717 more than the previous year.

However, it’s still only 83 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger volumes.

“[The airport] doesn’t drive passengers,” Bogusz said. “But it’s more of a return of ‘business as usual’ again.”

Bogusz believes the bounce back can be attributed to Air Canada and WestJest adding routes to and from Regina.

With the recent addition of a direct flight to Minneapolis, MN, the airport projects more than one million flyers in 2024.

“We’re aggressively pursuing air service,” Bogusz said. “It’s investments like this that are going to help those passenger numbers rebound even further.”

YQR says it …