Fred Bigelow expects a new WestJet service between Nanaimo and Calgary will have only a minor impact on operations at the Comox Valley Airport.
The airline will launch a twice-daily service between the two cities in June. The service will be operated by WestJet Encore's fleet of Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft.
"It's basically a souped-up Dash 8," said Bigelow, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport Commission, who met recently with WestJet Encore president Ferio Pugliese. "There will be a small impact."
Bigelow said passenger data has identified the impact will come from Nanaimo travellers who access flights from Comox.
"The service with the 737s will remain as what we've got right now," said Bigelow, noting YQQ topped 327,000 passengers last year.
"It's one (flight) a day versus the three to four a day we get out of here. Sort of puts it all in perspective."
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com