The Edson Airport might be open for business, but don’t expect to catch a flight anytime soon.
Earlier this week airport officials confirmed Intagra Air had quietly abandoned its plans to fly in and out of Edson back in June, leaving the airport without a commercial airline.
The news is a major blow to the region, which has spent years lobbying the provincial and federal governments to allow it to operate as a commercial airport.
The lobbying efforts began in earnest in 2012 when Tourism Jasper, along with the municipalities of Jasper, Hinton, Edson and Yellowhead County each pitched in $8,000 to commission the first of two feasibility studies to determine if the airport would be economically viable.
At the time, the study showed there was demand for 200,000 seats annually in Edson’s catchment area. The report indicated the majority of those seats would be used by the oil and gas industry while tourists, likely bound for Jasper, would make up 10 to 20 per cent of passengers.
In 2014, things appeared to be gaining momentum when former premier Alison Redford not only expressed her support for the airport, but also offered to personally pitch the idea to then-federal transport minister Lisa Raitt.
To ensure Redford was properly briefed, Tourism Jasper and each municipality pitched in another $15,000 to pay for a broader study and to create a working group with members from the relevant municipalities, tourism agencies, oil and gas companies and provincial ministries. The province matched the money for a total of $150,000.
Their efforts paid off in July 2015, when the Edson Airport was among 10 across Canada to be designated by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)—a key requirement to become a fully functioning commercial airport.
It was a huge moment for the entire region because it promised to not only cut travel time, but also stimulate the economy and create jobs.
In Jasper, the promise of a commercial airport was seen as a game changer, opening a direct path for the national park to overseas markets and leveling the playing field with places like Banff and Canmore, which are within an hour-and-a-half of the Calgary International Airport.
Fast-forward to May 2016 and the final piece of the puzzle appeared to be falling into place when Intagra Air announced it would begin offering commercial flights to and from Calgary four days a week starting June 6.
But just as quickly as they announced their plans, the company quietly pulled the plug less than a month later, leaving the airport high and dry.
While it’s frustrating to watch years of work come to nothing, by no means is it time to give up on the Edson Airport.
With its CATSA status it couldn’t be in a better position and we’re confident this region has the ability to attract another airline in the not-too-distant future.
