Students help boost travel numbers at airport

NEWS — Driven largely by corporate and student travel, traffic at Kamloops airport was up 5.3 per cent in May over the same month last year, according to the latest numbers from the airport.

Ed Ratuski, manager of airport operations, said today 22,837 travelers came through the airport last month. Year to date, the total is 133,593, up 9.6 per cent for the same period in 2013.

He attributed the growth to strong numbers of inbound and outbound Thompson Rivers University students and corporate travellers, helped by more flights to and from Calgary.

He said a new evening departure to Vancouver that comes into effect July 1 will further improve corporate and summer vacation travelers’ options.

There were moderate increases in the numbers of aircraft, as well, attributed to more corporate charter flights related to film industry activity in the area.