Prince George Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Prince George Airport


image-width = 128
IATA = YXS
ICAO = CYXS
type = Public
owner = Transport Canada [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/Airports/Status/menu.htm Airport Divestiture Status Report] ]
operator = Prince George Airport Authority
city-served = Prince George, British Columbia
elevation-f = 2,267
elevation-m = 691
coordinates = coord|53|53|22|N|122|40|44|W|type:airport
website = [http://www.pgairport.ca/Portal/Custom/YXS/Home.aspx www.pgairport.ca]
r1-number = 01/19
r1-length-f = 3,770
r1-length-m = 1,149
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 06/24
r2-length-f = 5,624
r2-length-m = 1,714
r2-surface = Asphalt
r3-number = 15/33
r3-length-f = 11,400
r3-length-m = 3,475
r3-surface = Asphalt/Concrete
stat-year = 2007
stat1-header = Aircraft Movements
stat1-data = 42,543
footnotes = Source: Canada Flight SupplementCFS]
Statistics from Transport Canada. [http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/EN/Report/TP577/pdf/TP577_07.pdf Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report 2007] ]

Prince George Airport Airport codes|YXS|CYXS is an airport that serves Prince George, British Columbia, Canada and the surrounding area. It is located just within the southern boundary of the city and is run by the Prince George Airport Authority.

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.

History

First opened in 1928, and until 1940, the airport's initial site was at the intersections of Highways 97 and 16 (the same site is currently being used as a golf course).

During the 1930s and 40s, it also contained Pineview Elementary, which was renamed the Airport School. In 1941, after the completion of runway 14-32, Pan American Airways operated from the Prince George Airport as a stopover location on its Seattle to Fairbanks route. In 1942, Canadian Pacific Airlines began offering scheduled flights six times a week to Prince George. In 1953, the first lights were installed along runway 14-32. Later that same year, a United States Air Force B-29 was forced to make an emergency landing along the same runway. It landed 18 inches deep inside the tarmac.

The Prince George Airport was commercialized in 1963 when Mrs. P. Richardson opened the first coffee shop in the terminal. Wildlife such as moose or deer can be seen occasionally from the runway.

The Prince George Airport underwent a significant expansion and revitalization from 2003 to 2005 that included the development of more check-in counters, larger pre-board screening and holding areas, new baggage carousels, and a Canada Customs checkpoint for international flights. The airport recently began serving Mexican destinations through charter company Air Transat (the flights are operated by WestJet Airlines).

As part of a deal where the city of Prince George agreed to cover up to $400,000 of risk with taxpayer money, Horizon Air began a daily flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on May 1, 2008. However, this proved unpopular and both the city and Horizon lost "substantial" money before the deal was canceled four months later. [ [http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/News/2008/09/11/6733176-cp.html Horizon Air to cancel direct flight to Seattle from Prince George] ]

The airport has been recently criticized for not having a covered walkway from its passenger holding area to aircraft parked outside. Fact|date=February 2007

Airlines

*Head office for Northern Thunderbird Air (Williston Lake destinations and charters)
*Air Canada
**Air Canada Jazz (Vancouver)
*Air Transat operated by Westjet (Puerto Vallarta, seasonal)
*Central Mountain Air (Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Terrace, Smithers)
*WestJet (Vancouver)

ee also

*Prince George (North Cariboo Air Park) Airport

References

External links

* [http://www.guardianaerospace.net/ Guardian Aerospace; Flight School/ Air Charters]
* [http://www.pgairport.ca/yxs/ Prince George Airport]
* [http://www.flightsource.ca/ FlightSource Aviation Photo Database]