[YARMOUTH, NS] — A provincial government investment of $30,000 announced on Friday, Jan. 20, for the Yarmouth airport will help to protect jobs and support economic growth in the area by providing assistance to Twin Cities Air Service during the winter months.
"This service is vital for the continued operation of the Yarmouth Airport and helps southwest Nova Scotia remain competitive in the global marketplace," said Percy Paris, minister of economic and rural development and tourism. "The investment will help preserve a key piece of infrastructure for the region and increase passengers on this valuable service."
By having continuous three-day-per-week air service for the next 12 months, the airport will continue to leverage strategic investments, the province says.
"The airport provides the businesses and people of southwest Nova Scotia with a very valuable service," said airport manager David Hill. "This investment will help us grow economic and tourism opportunities for the region."
The funding is going to the airport, which will oversee a portion of it for Twin Cities.
Hill says there is an equation that has been worked out that will see a portion of the funding cover any possible losses that the air service might experience in January, February or March.
“So it won’t make them money, but it will cover their losses,” said Hill. “If you were to put that equation into the flights that they had at this time last year, it would have cost us $13,000 or $14,000 in assistance for that three-month period.”
Hill said in December bookings were up compared to the same month last year and January and February are about on par with last year.
“March last year they almost broke even so there is a fair chance they will this year, so I’m not actually expecting it to cost us anymore than that, although there is a provision for a bit more should we need it,” Hill told the Vanguard.
Yarmouth International Airport Corporation representatives will also work with Twin Cities Air Service to develop additional economic and marketing opportunities for the service.
The airport, meanwhile, will continue to pursue additional funding programs to help finance capital projects, such as runway and safety improvements, protect assets and reduce operating costs.
