Council members to hear recommendation for a three year extension of the agreement between City and Airport Authority

Helping the Prince Rupert Airport through some challenging
times will be a topic for tonight's Council Session

With the Prince Rupert Airport hard hit by the suspension of Air service by Air Canada a couple of times in the last year, City Council members will hear a recommendation tonight to extend the timeline to a partnership agreement between the City of Prince Rupert and the Prince Rupert Airport Authority.

The history of the arrangement goes back to 2013 when the City patterned with the Airport Authority for the provision of a loan for Airport upgrades, the terms of the agreement to be 20 years ending in 2034.

Corinne Bomben, the City's Financial Officer, will outline tonight in her report to Council how the airport has faced challenges  in meeting their obligations  under the current agreement, with the CFO recommending an extension of the partnering agreement to 23 years.

Should Council approve the request, under the proposed extension, the Airport will resume making principal repayment to the City in 2023 and end in 2037.

Ms. Bomben's report also notes that the city will be using COVID Safe restart grid funding towards airport obligations, the full report can be reviewed below, it is also posted to the Council Agenda for tonight's session.

Prince Rupert Airport Manager Rick Leach has spoken often of the challenges that YPR has faced during the COVID pandemic, particularly related to the suspension of Air service between the North Coast and Vancouver.

That service is set to return in June, though as we outlined last week, the start date for resumption of air travel out of YPR has been pushed back a week to June 23rd.

More notes on air travel in the Northwest can be explored here.

Further notes on tonight's Council session can be found from our Council Preview.

A wider overview of past discussion topics for Prince Rupert City Council can be reviewed here.