The Nanaimo Airport will welcome its one-millionth passenger through its doors this summer.
And the celebrations are already beginning.
“We’re thrilled we will break the million-passenger mark in the next month,” Nanaimo Airport president and CEO Mike Hooper said in a press release. “To celebrate, we have an exciting six-week promotion planned called Thanks A Million. Thirty regional residents will have a chance to open a safe and win $1 million, along with other great prizes from our community sponsors.”
The Thanks A Million contest kicks off this week with entry forms in newspapers throughout the central Island.
Each week, five regional qualifiers will win a McCafe coffee a week for a year from McDonalds, an invitation for two to attend the airport's July 26 celebration event and one chance to try their five-digit code to open the safe for $1 million and will be entered into the draws for the community-sponsored Thanks A Million prizes.
Each of the 30 qualifiers will have a chance at the $1 million and at the very least walk away from the July 26 event with a great community-sponsored prize, such as a one-year lease of a Volkswagen Jetta from Harbourview Volkswagen, a 46-inch LED television from McKays Home Theater Centers, and a one-week stay at Origin at Longwood.
Full details and contest rules are available online.
In addition to The Thanks a Million promotion, YCD is planning a week of celebrations at the terminal around the millionth passenger.
“It will be a festive environment with daily refreshments for travellers, our Ambassadors laminating luggage tags and a special draw for those travelling,” says Hooper.
The Nanaimo Airport’s year-long Gaining Altitude — A Million and Beyond campaign is the next step in the airport’s managed growth strategy that saw completion of a two-phase expansion plan between 2006 and 2011.
During that time, 913,000 passengers travelled through YCD’s terminal, and the airport is on target to reach its goal of one million passengers this summer, helping to open up the potential for new aircraft landings, flight schedules, routes and destinations.
Hooper is quick to share the praise for the airport's accomplishments.
“Collaboration and partnership has been the driving force behind our expansion and growth," he said. "Our success as an airport is tied directly to the support we receive from area residents, businesses and elected officials. I extend a huge thank you to all of those that support the Nanaimo Airport. We couldn’t have done it without you.”