By Alex McCuaig

Air Canada

Air Canada grounds Medicine Hat service

Mar 11, 2020 | 5:15 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Air Canada will be cancelling service to Medicine Hat at the end of the month as the already economically-strained service has been pushed over the edge of viability by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s not really a surprise but certainly a disappointment,” said Jeff Huntus, manager of the Medicine Hat Regional Airport. “(Air Canada) had some challenges with load factors and certainly when COVID-19 hit, it was a tipping point.”

The airport has seen major renovations in recent years with the tarmac repaved and the terminal building renovated.

The city-owned facility – originally built as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War Two – had attracted two commercial air carriers since 2016.

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Integra Air began a daily service to Edmonton which ran for 18 months before folding and WestJet began regular service in 2018 and is currently flying daily to Calgary.

The Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce has been working closely with the city and air carriers in recent years to attract more travel options to the city.

And news of the Air Canada’s removing it’s daily service to Calgary was something of a blow, according to the Chamber’s executive director.

“Any time we have decreased air service, obviously it’s a concern for the Chamber of Commerce,” said Lisa Kowalchuk. “We’ve been advocating for a number of years for improved air service to Medicine Hat.”

However, Kowalchuk is holding out hope as to a possible return of Air Canada services to the city.

“If things change, if economic conditions improve, obviously with COVID-19 once things settle with that – if there is an opportunity with Air Canada in the future and look at improved air service, certainly we’re always open to those possibilities,” said Kowalchuk.

The final Air Canada service from Medicine Hat will be on March 31.