BELLINGHAM, WA. (NEWS 1130) – Given the exchange rate, it looks like far fewer people from the Lower Mainland are heading across the border to catch a flight, but that’s making a big impact on the airport.
According to data from the Port of Bellingham, about 418,000 people flew out of the airport last year — which is down by nearly eight per cent when compared to 2015. That follows a decline of twice that the year before.
“We’ll continue to seek to provide a real low-cost option for Canadian travellers and we expect as the valuation in currency changes that we’ll see an increase in passengers as well,” explains Michael Hogan with the Port of Bellingham which operates the airport.
The airport recorded its best year ever in 2013, the last year the Canadian loonie regularly sat near par with the US greenback. However, things trailed off after that and it’s not surprising given more than half of all passengers at the airport were Canadian at one point. “We offer direct flights to Kona, Oahu, so we’re always looking at other options for direct flights.”
Hogan says the airport is considering bringing back direct flights to places like Denver as well, which saw some success in the past.