Transport sa国际传媒 would like to hand over the operation of Victoria鈥檚 Inner Harbour aerodrome to local control, but that should not take place without proper studies, a workable plan and sufficient funding.
The federal government instituted its National Airports Policy in 1994 with the idea that Transport sa国际传媒 would be the landlord and regulator of airports, not the operator.
Before its Airport Divestiture Program expired in 2007, Transport sa国际传媒 had transferred ownership of 128 airports across sa国际传媒 to local interests, including airport authorities, local governments and societies. The program provided support through studies and funding to ensure smooth transitions.
Victoria International Airport 鈥� known as YYJ in International Air Transport Association code 鈥� was one of those transferred, and it has prospered under the airport authority.
Victoria鈥檚 harbour airport 鈥� known as YWH 鈥� is one of 18 airports still operated by Transport sa国际传媒, and is the only water airport still being operated by the federal government. The harbour master operates both the harbour鈥檚 air and marine systems for Transport sa国际传媒.
The feds want to change that, but the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, the logical body to operate the airport, is less than enthusiastic about taking it over.
In July 2013, Transport sa国际传媒 floated the idea of divesting itself of the harbour airport. At the time, GVHA chief executive Curtis Grad said there were too many variables to explore before handing control over to a local body.
He reiterated that cautious approach this week.
That caution is warranted 鈥� it鈥檚 not simply a matter of handing over the keys and posting a sign that says: 鈥淯nder new management.鈥� As Grad points out, the entity taking over the airport would need to know the regulatory framework and financial aspects of the facility.
Unlike Victoria International Airport, which has several sources of revenue and potential for expansion, the harbour airport has little in the way of infrastructure and few options for bringing in additional revenue.
Yet it is vital to the economy of Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island. It is a deceptively busy airport 鈥� according to several sources, the route between the harbours in Victoria and Vancouver is the busiest air route in the country, in terms of the number of flights.
Putting the harbour airport under the control of YYJ is not practical 鈥� the two facilities are too widely separated geographically and function too differently.
And it wouldn鈥檛 be wise to create a harbour airport authority 鈥� we don鈥檛 need another level of local bureaucracy in the capital region. Given its limited resources and scope, YWH would do best under an existing entity, and the harbour authority is, by default, that entity.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce favours local control, and has the backing of the Canadian Chamber in calling on the federal government to establish a new divestiture program with appropriate funding.
鈥淟ocal operation of airports allows for the ability to customize the level of service needed by the community,鈥� says the chamber鈥檚 statement. 鈥淭his has proven to be more viable and responsive to community needs, as it can better match service levels to local demands and resources, further ensuring long-term viability of local airports.鈥�
Transport sa国际传媒 says it doesn鈥檛 have a dedicated divestiture program, but given its desire to offload the operation of the harbour airport, it should at least assure potential operators that the transition will be backed by sufficient resources and other support to ensure public safety and service are not compromised.
Many questions surround the issue of putting the harbour airport under local control. These questions need to be clearly answered before any changes are made.
