Regina’s airport is once again basking in its status as an international airport.
Transport Canada has maintained the Regina Airport Authority’s international designation until at least March 2023.
In January 2021, the federal government revised the list of airports that had international designations, removing some airports from the list, including YQR.
“As the 15th busiest airport in the country and the airport for the capital city of Saskatchewan, it’s critical that Regina have an International Airport Designation. This international designation increases the prominence of the airport and will help grow business opportunities in all southern Saskatchewan”, said James Bogusz, President and CEO, Regina Airport Authority in a media release.
The designation is able to help with the airport’s marketing efforts to receive international flights and new routes as well as help grow international business in southern Saskatchewan.
“The cache of an international airport also ensures us that the federal government will also commit the appropriate resources to ensure border entry in our community, (and) to ensure the right staffing levels are here,” Bogusz said in a phone interview.
Bogusz said a designated international airport in this country is a signal to other countries who may want to have flights coming to YQR.
Transport Canada will be providing information how to maintain the designation beyond 2023.
“We are told there will be a new way of qualifying for this international designation potentially beyond that, and of course our airport will be happy to work with the federal government to make sure that happens,” he said.
The provincial government also added their approval of the designation.
“While it is good to see the return of the designation, it should have never been removed by the federal government in the first place,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said in the release.
