Regina airport hits its yearly peak for travellers

The travel season is hitting its peak at the Regina International Airport, not just for the holidays but for the entire year.

“Typically, Dec. 23 is the busiest day,” outlined Steve Burchi, vice-president of operations with the Regina Airport Authority, even though he added they don’t yet have any hard numbers and won’t until month’s end.

He said it often depends on what day of the week Christmas falls on, but generally Dec. 23 takes the title because many people simply don’t want to fly out on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

While Burchi said there are fewer people travelling this year because of the economy, it wasn’t hard to spot people ready to hit the air on Wednesday. Bonnie Brandvold was with her family, getting ready to fly to Panorama in B.C as the family usually does.

“We don’t do gifts. The gift is everybody coming to Panorama for Christmas. We get together and see each other,” she said at a check-in kiosk.

Up near the top of the escalator, Gayle Rouse sat beside her daughter and granddaughter waiting to board her flight to Calgary. There, she’ll see part of her family but not first without leaving the other part of her family in Saskatchewan.

“I have a big family and it’s pretty hard for them all to get together at Christmas,” explained Rouse.

The holidays can be a stressful time, especially for those who have to travel to see loved ones.

Anne Elder knows that. The university student was getting ready to visit her parents in Yellowknife.

“I’m relieved because I’m stress-free from school but it’s stressful travelling sometimes because it can be busy and delays and everything so hopefully it’s good,” she described.

Yorkton’s Paul Peterson said he felt far more relaxed than stressed moments before he was set to fly to Chilliwack, B.C.

“Getting away from work and everything, going away for a week, it’s good.”

Brandvold agreed.

“[I’m] absolutely relieved to be getting out of town and going somewhere where I don’t have to do the dishes and clean the house,” she smiled. “And I’m one that stresses quickly so if I can get through an airport just enjoying the moment, I think anybody could.”