Officials hope lighting upgrade brightens mood at airport

By ALEX McCUAIG Special to the News on May 18, 2021.

It’s been a tough few years for Medicine Hat’s municipal airport after first losing the regional Integra Air for financial reasons, Air Canada suspending flights indefinitely just as the pandemic hit last March and then WestJet this March.

“We were ready for wonderful things,” Jeff Huntus, airport manager, told councillors on Monday.

Then the pandemic hit.

But council heard staff at the municipally-owned airport have been continuing to look for opportunities to upgrade the facility.

That work paid off with a nearly $1-million federal grant to improve lighting on the runway with the whole project only requiring $50,000 from city coffers to complete.

Council heard the operational life of the current lighting system was nearing its operational lifespan and, once complete, the airstrip’s infrastructure will be fully upgraded.

“We’re optimistic it’ll make (air providers) return that much easier,” Huntus told councillors.