By Cheryl Jahn

Airport Looks At Expansion

Jul 13, 2018 | 3:50 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Prince George Airport is a busy place these days, with more planes and more passengers coming and going. The Head of the Airport Authority says there is a trio of reasons for it.

“Central Mountain has used us as a hub, starting in the middle of last year and that continues. And that takes up more apron space and puts more people in the terminal,” says John Gibson, President and CEO of the Prince George Airport Authority. “Also, our growth rates have been beyond what’s been projected at two percent a year. Last year was eight percent, this year it’s at six and a half percent so far. So more pressure on the facility.”

Thirdly, he adds the economy is looking really “robust.” He says that trio of reasons is why the Airport Autority is looking at the possibility of expanding areas of the airport.

The Foreign Trade Zone designation has helped to promote Prince George and its airport to Asian markets, in particular.

“The foreign trade zone is an area that has different duties and taxes and is better for goods that come in, get re-worked here and then get distributed throughout North America. Logistics companies don’t pay the duties and taxes unless they’re going into Canada,” says Gibson. “The Asians are used to that, whether it’s the Chinese or the Japanese. The US has lots of foreign trade zones.”   

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Gibson is currently in Asia promoting the opportunities with that designation.