Airport

The airline that serves the Trail Regional Airport is set to be acquired by another company.

Dexterra Integrated Facilities Management has held the contract since 2021, which is due to expire on Oct. 31. The 18-month extension is worth $1 million.

A flight approach to the Trail airport that has helped planes land in less-than-ideal weather will have to be redesigned.

The job goes to PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. of Kelowna, who will be paid $60,000 plus tax.

A straight-in approach that allows reliable access in marginal weather no longer meets Transport Canada criteria.

Ravi Kahlon wrote a letter this month to federal transport minister Steven MacKinnon, urging him to approve a GPS-based landing system that would result in lowered approach limits in bad weather at the West Kootenay Regional Aiport.

Thirty-three flights have been cancelled this year, the same number at this time in 2025.

If and when the West Kootenay Regional Airport receives the go-ahead for a GPS-based landing system, a marketing campaign will be needed to regain the confidence of travellers to fly out of Castlegar, according to the airport manager.

A local resident is sounding the alarm over changes to Air Canada's flight schedule in Castlegar that she says makes it harder for travellers coming from the east to get home in a single day.