In any other year, the holiday season would be a busy period at the Regina airport.
Not this year.
The chief executive officer of the Regina Airport Authority, James Bogusz, said the facility is running “around 15 or 20 per cent of our usual capacity” due to COVID-19.
“So it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s a typical Christmas here at YQR,” Bogusz told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday.
However, Bogusz is detecting an air of optimism about travel.
The first COVID-19 vaccine being administered in Saskatchewan doesn’t hurt either.
“We’re already hearing a lot of people talking about the spring, this summer, to sort of reinvigorate their previous travel plans,” he said.
What’s more is that airlines are becoming more aggressive with their marketing schemes.
“I’m on both the WestJet and Air Canada mailing lists, for example, and I’m seeing a lot of promotions being sent right now to encourage you to book ahead,” Bogusz said.
Prospective travellers should check the fine print, though. Some airlines are only refunding customers who cancel with credit rather than cash.
“So when you are booking, what’s really key is just make sure you look at either the fare class with each airline or their actual policies on what it means if you need to postpone those travel plans,” Bogusz said.
Currently, interprovincial travel is not recommended but for those who must, Bogusz said passengers should make sure they have an acceptable mask, which must be worn both in the terminal and on the plane.
“(Airlines) are a little bit more stringent than maybe what you could get away with at a grocery store,” he said.
“You want to look for masks that basically have no ventilation of any sort. Some of those masks you could have bought a few months ago … had those little vent holes that wouldn’t be acceptable on an aircraft.”
Those travelling with wrapped gifts should place them in checked luggage.
Bogusz said security might have to unwrap them otherwise “and that can be quite disappointing if you spend time doing a nice gift wrap.”