Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, April 18, 2024

Vice-President Olaf chaired the meeting. 

 Guests Gerard Duffney and Kaitlyn Priddle were introduced and welcomed. 

The Toonie Quest West 50-50 draw had a winner this week.  

Program-chair Carol introduced guest speaker Tammy Priddle. Tammy is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Deer Lake Regional Airport.  Her presentation gave the club an update on the Regional Deer Lake Airport Authority. 

 Tammy began by looking at the Strategic Plan 2022- 2024 in which the vision of the airport stated that Deer Lake Airport would be a leading regional airport in Canada, maximizing connections, opportunities and travel journeys for people, businesses, and the communities served.

The mission of the airport is to deliver exceptional airport services and facilities, enhance all customer and partner experiences and generate economic activity for the region.  She continued by looking at the core values of the airport that are that the airport will be safe, respectful, collaborative, inclusive, innovative, and accountable.  The airport is moving towards the goals of maximizing business development, delivering an exceptional passenger experience, expanding partnerships, and strengthening the organisation. Tammy noted that the airport is a community that has partnerships with local charities such as the Islaview Foundation and different businesses. 

 She continued by looking at the weekly destinations from Deer Lake in August 2023. There were 84 flights each week going to the different destinations of Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Moncton, Goose Bay, and Hamilton with the carriers being Air Canada, PAL Airlines and Swoop.

 The latest developments will be that in summer 2024 the seat capacity will exceed 2019 levels, tourism partnerships are strong and growing, there will be a focus collaboratively on developing the shoulder season, and economic and business development in the region relies on effective air service.  

However ongoing airline challenges with pilots and crew will impact the airport operations as will inflation and the continuing rising costs of goods and services plus the cost to do business. 

Tammy noted a significant number of regulatory changes and regulations are taxing the airport’s human and financial resources and is also driving a significant degree of changes and elevating the expectations of Transport Canada and the general public- re: air service and air operations.

Tammy looked forward to summer 2024 and the services that will be offered. Porter Airlines will be flying from Deer Lake to Halifax from June 4 onward. This will be a daily service ending in October.  Air Canada will offer more flights to Montreal and will use planes with a greater passenger capacity. West Jet will offer flights 4 days a week with one flight going from Deer Lake direct to Calgary. Flair will be offering flights 3 days a week to Kitchener/Waterloo. This is exciting news for people living in Western Newfoundland.

 She concluded her talk by reviewing what was happening next from the AGM on April 4^th, a public meeting in Corner Brook on May 8^th to developments in the next few months from an updated strategic plan for 2025 – 2019 to a new parking system, apron extension and configuration of lines to water system repairs and sewer up grades to name just a few. 

Tammy answered several questions before being thanked by Olaf on behalf of the club and the meeting adjourned.