By Sheldon Spackman

Air Canada grounding flights between Red Deer and Calgary

Jun 27, 2018 | 12:43 PM

Air Canada has announced it will soon be discontinuing its daily flight service between Red Deer and Calgary.

The airline issued the following statement on June 27 regarding the upcoming change:

“We will be suspending our flights between Red Deer and Calgary effective Nov. 1/2018 as this route is not meeting the required financial performance targets.

We always look to schedule the right aircraft at the right times to the right destinations.

The three times daily Red Deer-Calgary flights were scheduled to connect to and from our other flights across North America and internationally at our Calgary hub.

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Air Canada reviews all schedules worldwide on a regular basis, and adjustments are made based on commercial factors including demand.” 

The service operated by Air Canada Express through carrier Air Georgian Limited launched on September 3, 2013 with three times daily flights between Red Deer and Calgary using a 19-seat Beech aircraft.

Graham Ingham, Red Deer Regional Airport CEO, says it’s a disappointing day, but there are more opportunities on the horizon.

“It’s pretty significant any time you lose a key partner. The traffic’s been declining since about 2015, so we’re not totally caught off guard by this. It’s something you hope wouldn’t happen, but we were prepared in the event that it did,” he says.

“As most people know, we’ve got the ultra low-cost carriers ramping up and we’re hoping to be a part of that new wave, as well as the land development opportunities coming to the airport.” 

Ingham puts part of the blame for the declining number of flyers on the sagging economy. He also notes that Red Deer Regional Airport shares the aircraft with Lethbridge and Cranbrook, and with pilot shortages, the factors working against them have added up.

“It’s not all lost, but it will certainly be missed,” he adds. “The only option now is to drive to Calgary or drive up to Edmonton.”

As for that new wave of Ultra Low-Cost Carriers, Ingham says Red Deer Airport has been actively in talks with organizations such as Canada Jetlines and Enerjet (FlyToo) Airlines.

In addition, he says the airport’s land development plan features new road access to Springbrook, allowing for the utilization of an additional 200 acres of prime real estate for Red Deer Airport.

Ingham points out this will result in their aviation businesses expanding further and drive the airport’s economic development on the region.

Red Deer Airport is currently home to 19 Aviation-related businesses, including two flight schools and employing roughly 250 full time staff within these businesses.