SPC to hear report on air service
By Lethbridge Herald on July 9, 2025.
Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
A report on the Lethbridge airport will be presented today to the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee of city council.Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald
A report on Lethbridge air service will be made this afternoon to the Economic and Finance Standing Policy Committee of city council today.
The committee, consisting of the mayor and all members of council, will meet at 9 a.m. with a closed session.Â
The report by airport manager Cameron Prince will be delivered at 1 p.m.
The report, which will be provided to the SPC as information, states a consultant has been selected to help with the preparation of necessary data/information that will allow the City – which acquired the airport in 2018 – to engage with incumbent and future air service providers “in relation to future air service growth.”
The consultant’s services are being funded through the airport’s existing budget.
The report notes that the airport saw its highest volume of traffic – about 104,000 passengers – in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It notes that Air Canada left the local market just prior to the pandemic, leaving WestJet as the sole provider of commercial air service.
The report adds that in 2022, the airport was modernized with “significant” renovations “with a focus on enhancing passenger comfort and safety.”Â
During this time, major airlines were adapting to the impacts caused by the pandemic and making changes to their operations, says the report.
In the case of WestJet, that meant strengthening its presence in Calgary. Both it and Air Canada removed smaller aircraft from fleets and reduced or cancelled service to many regional airports in Canada.
“Moving to larger aircraft allows the airline to transport more passengers at a lower cost per seat, however, to maintain similar capacity, the airline must reduce the number of flights per day. In the fall of 2024, WestJet ended their partnership with Pacific Coastal and upscaled the aircraft to 78 seats
which resulted in service being reduced to one flight per day,” says the report.
An update to the SPC states that the common net profit margin for airlines is 0 to five per cent with a lower profit margin equalling less tolerance for risk. Key metrics for airlines are passengers per day and cost per seat.
The SPC will also hear an update by Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Darrell Mathews on municipality controlled corporation development and the proposed EventCo which will be heard after acting CEO of the Lethbridge and District Exhibition provides his monthly report on that organization’s financial situation.
And the SPC will be asked by Housing Solutions co-ordinator Matthew Pitcher to recommend council approve a one-time grant of $33,795.73 from the 2024 operating budget surplus resulting from the increase in the unbudgeted Local Government Fiscal Framework operating grant for three Aboriginal Housing Society affordable housing projects.
The report says that last fall the provincial government requested assistance from the City in identifying local housing providers who may qualify for tax exemption under Bill 20. City administration provided a list of active funding agreements containing affordability requirements. Two agreements with the Aboriginal Housing Society ,which were signed in 2011, were initially omitted because of their age but after being identified, were submitted to the province with the exemption to take effect in 2026 rather than this year.
“To ensure equitable treatment, Administration recommends that Council approve a one- time grant to offset the 2025 property taxes payable by the Aboriginal Housing Society,” says the report.
18-17
Does the runway meet new Snowbird policies/regs for them to come to this city or is the runway 500 feet short or whatever the length required to meet the new policies?
Why did everthing seem to fail at the airport after the City of Lethbridge took over the airport from the County?
So the city is having a closed session with no public input for all of these important issues? Is this just for the morning session or the whole meeting? The public should be allowed to comment?
The city is going to spend almost $8 million more in Galt Gardens on the SAAG gallery, while the issues continue to grow in Galt Gardens, with several fires beside existing structures/doors this winter by people sleeping rough and in tents. I am vehemently opposed to anymore money being put into that park until they clean up the criminal/addiction/encampment issues! They say estimates at $7.5 million, but you know how estimates go . . . the exhibition complex fiasco, the parkade which was supposed to be $17 million but ended up over $21 million!
Is anyone paying attention?
Public input is important! It is all taxpayer money whether it is municipal, provincial or federal. As I watch a fire burning in the coulees near a large senior’s condo complex I wonder which structure in Galt Gardens will be the next casualty from the criminals who are allowed to run free all night and then sleep in the park all day long! Important decisions should be in front of the public, not behind closed doors with no video available even!
The Committee will also hear an update on planned facility upgrades for the Southern Alberta Art Gallery. The SAAG revitalization project aims to modernize gallery spaces, improve air quality and lighting, and add new features like a small food service area, outdoor patio, and pop-up theatre to boost community programming and partnerships. Total costs are estimated at $7.5 million through 2026, with funding from community groups, federal and provincial grants, and local reserves. Once complete, the improved gallery is expected to expand public engagement, attract new bookings, and help the SAAG become more self-sufficient.
Clean up downtown first, then make improvements. Vancouver DTES found out their plans to revitalize failed, including gentrification of the area, with million dollar properties on one side of East Hastings and tent cities on the sidewalk across the street.
This is not fiscally responsible! It is item 6.3 on the agenda, but this article states tomorrows meeting is closed session. I guess one will just have to attempt to get more details from 311 or go down there.