After some new growth in 2018, the Regina Airport Authority is working to offer more services and destinations for its passengers this year.

The city’s Airport saw a 3.5 per cent decrease in passengers in 2017, but that turned around to a 1.5 per cent increase in 2018; about 19,000 more passengers used the hub in 2018 than the year prior.

Airport Authority President and CEO James Bogusz credits a more stabilized economy and big events like the Memorial Cup, LPGA Tour and Canada’s largest academic conference at University of Regina for the growth.

“The summer was exceptionally busy for us. We had a growth of over 7 per cent in a couple of the summer months, which really helped bolster those numbers,” said Bogusz.

The airport authority will be using those numbers along with Saskatchewan’s population growth and unemployment rate to bring more flights into Regina.

Bogusz said he’s been in serious talks with United Airlines, working hard to convince them to return and once again offer a direct flight to Denver.

In 2014, United cancelled its direct route to Chicago, followed by its Denver flight in 2015. In 2016, Delta also pulled its daily flight to Minneapolis, leaving Regina with no regular direct flight to the U.S.

“Regaining a year-round, non-stop service to a U.S. hub has been an absolute top priority,” he said.

As Bogusz tries to reverse at least one of those cuts, he’s travelling to the Routes North America conference next week in Quebec City, which he described as speed dating with airlines. There are a number of meetings set up to introduce Regina to several airlines and tell them what they’re missing.

The airport authority believes the current lack of competition to U.S. destinations makes it more attractive for United to return. While it would love to bring back Delta, Bogusz said Denver is the easiest location to fly to as a major hub from Regina.

More food post-security

The airport authority is also looking internally at how it can improve services at the terminal. A survey was done in the fall asking customers what they wanted to see.

“One of the things we identified very quickly is a lack of (food) options, post-security,” said Bogusz.

He admitted the airport isn’t meeting what its customers are asking for in terms of food options. It plans to reconfigure space on the second floor to create more room for food inside the security screening area.

Doing that may change the way the security line is configured.