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If it wasn’t for COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport may have had its best year ever in 2020.
During an annual general meeting held virtually on Friday, airport CEO Bernard LeBlanc says January and February had very promising passenger and cargo numbers.
LeBlanc says prudent fiscal management has helped the airport get better prepared for the pandemic.
However, many capital projects for 2020 have been put on hold and LeBlanc says it became necessary to make staff cuts in August.
“(We did this) through combining roles or retirements. Nine full-time employees have been affected by this change as well as three seasonal employees.”
LeBlanc says COVID-19 also curtailed the airport’s plans to become carbon neutral since it had to abandon energy efficient investments.
The airport is utilizing the federal wage subsidy but LeBlanc notes there has been no direct federal support unlike airports in the United States.
However, Ottawa is contributing to a $16.7 million project now underway which is designed to better manage airplane de-icing fluid as it runs off into the waste water system.
Looking ahead to 2021, LeBlanc adds some difficult financial decisions will have to be made.
