5,000 FT Runway

WestJet employees back regional airline

Thursday, 09 February 2012 00:00 Gillian Slade

WestJet employees have voted in favour of a regional airline. Cities to be a part of this will be announced down the road.

GILLIAN SLADE
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WestJet's employees have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a regional airline and the aircraft they are planning to purchase are capable of flying out of Medicine Hat Regional Airport (MHRA).
"There's absolutely no problem with the existing runway," said Jeff Huntas, airport manager for MHRA.
WestJet is not revealing yet which cities will be part of the regional airline's schedule but confirmed the Hat's existing runway does not  pose a problem for the aircraft they plan to use.
Exactly when WestJet will announce the cities that are to be included in the new routes is not known.
"What we can say to Medicine Hat is that we hear you," said Robert Palmer spokesperson for WestJet. "You are one of many communities across Canada who has let us know, in no uncertain terms, that you are interested in WestJet's service, not only on this occasion but in previous years as well."
In determining the routes WestJet will consider the size of the community and surrounding area, the airport and its amenities, the local economy and whether there are any large industries with many employees, the propensity of people there to travel, what is there history on previous air service and whether they like it and used it, explained Palmer.
WestJet plans to launch the regional airline in 2013 and is now looking at the purchase of aircraft. They will be issuing an RFP to Bombardier for Q400 NextGen and ATR for the ATR 72-600 which seat 70 to 75 passengers.
These are airplanes currently flying out of the Toronto Island Airport with a runway that is only 4,000 ft long compared to Medicine Hat's 5,000 ft runway, said Huntas.
"They're actually very good short field aircraft."
What will pose a bigger challenge at MHRA, if on the WestJet route, are facilities including to handle the additional aircraft and passengers.
"We would need expansion of the terminal and facilities," said Huntas. "We have requested funding under the current budget."
There are no blueprints yet for an expanded terminal. Huntas says MHRA would be able to accommodate the increased traffic in the short term if an expansion was still under construction when WestJet begins its service.
WestJet will need additional pilots and flight attendants for the regional airlines and feel their reputation will assist in acquiring the right people, said Palmer.
"We have a lot of very good people who want to work for us," said Palmer.
MHRAs existing runway is hampering the Hat's ability to provide a base for military aircraft. BATUS and other military troops heading to CFB Suffield are flying into Calgary and using road transport to Suffield.
Huntas says there is also a lack of service support in terms of hangars, maintenance facilities and airport servicing.
"The runway is one aspect of it," said Huntas. "It's a very costly endeavour to put that infrastructure in place for a limited number of flights per year."
In the past Air North flew three 737's, which are capable of carrying 115 passengers, out of Medicine Hat carrying military troops who'd been at Suffield. The load was reduced in terms of passengers and fuel to facilitate the 5,000 ft runway.
The City's strategic master plan for MHRA in 2006 indicated the runway length would be sufficient for the next 20 years. Huntas says if there was the right incentive though he could see the city lengthening the runway before then.
"In aviation in particular, timely response to opportunity is critical if you are going to achieve success," said Huntas. "The City recognizes that."