Like most other Saskatchewan businesses, 2020 was a very challenging year for the Regina Airport Authority.

President and CEO James Bogusz said before March things were essentially “booming”.

However at the height of the pandemic passenger levels at Regina’s Airport were down to two percent of normal numbers.

Bogusz says that resulted in some very difficult decisions having to be made.

“With that challenge, we rose to the occasion. Although we had to make a lot of tough decisions, such as laying off over 30 percent of our staff, cutting our budgets, and reducing our projects, our staff really pulled together,” said Bogusz.

Bogusz says at remaining staff managed to keep those who were still flying as safe as possible.

“Our airport is doing its part,” said Bogusz. “We’ve got a great program in place for enhanced custodial service, making sure that government messaging is being reproduced in a way that’s meaningful to the passengers both on our website, and of course in terminal, with paging announcements, signage, etc.”

While there is light at the end of the tunnel for the aviation industry, Bogusz says it’s only going to happen once key government officials start advocating for unrestricted travel.