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Travellers heading to the Regina airport now have another way to get there without using a car.
The City of Regina and YQR launched a new transit route, Route 24, that will take riders from the city’s downtown to the front of the airport.
The bus will run Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. until just after midnight.
One of the buses being used for the new route to the Regina airport. (Lindsay Newman/ 980 CJME)
“This new service will also support buildings like our Canada Post and a number of the hangars that are just north of the main airport terminal building,” said James Bogusz, the president and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority.
He said this has been in the works for the last four years.
“The reality was that during the pandemic, there was such a major downturn in passenger volumes and the reduction in staff. It just made sense until the airport was bouncing back,” Bogusz said.
As for the route, the bus will head down Sandra Schmirler Way, make a right-hand turn to the tenant area, and then loop around to the front curb of the airport terminal.
The bus stop is located outside the doors near the Brick and Mortar store.
“Whether you are an airport employee on grounds or within the terminal building or perhaps you’re taking a flight, you’ll have an option of taking Regina Transit during the business week,” Bogusz said.
According to Bogusz, the Regina airport will be contributing $100,000 per year for the first three years and then the city will cover the rest.
That would make the total cost of the bus $348,000 each year.
Bogusz said eventually, the authority would like to see the bus have expanded hours.
“Right now, it makes sense that (it runs) Monday through Friday, when many of the major tenants (are) on airport property. I understand why they are starting with a five-day-a-week service,” Bogusz said.
Mayor Sandra Masters said it’s believed that the ridership is not there on the weekends.
“We’re going to be monitoring the feedback (and) the hope would be that if we get great uptake, we’ll be able to expand,” she said.
Bogusz also called this a step in the right direction with the hope of eventually having the service operate seven days a week.
Masters said there’s excitement at the airport for this service.
“We’re really happy to have this here and have the partnership with the RAA,” she said.
To celebrate the start of the bus route, the city is offering free rides on Route 24 until Friday.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of this story, correcting a spelling error.