Nanaimo Airport will see its two-millionth passenger pass through its gate sometime today, May 11, says a release from YCD President and CEO Mike Hooper.
“We reached our millionth passenger just 3.5 short years ago,” said Hooper.
“To grow by another one million travellers in such a short period of time shows that the people of Central Vancouver Island trust us to deliver convenience, affordability and safety while connecting them to the rest of the world.”
To mark the occasion Nanaimo Airport is launching its You’re One in 2 Million campaign.
The two-millionth passenger will receive prizes, including free parking for a year at YCD.
Everyone else on the flight will receive prizes too.
“And that’s just the beginning of the rewards,” the YCD release says.
An online contest will be launched May 9, offering Central Island residents a chance to win two tickets for a trip in North America, while people flying out of Nanaimo Airport will also be eligible for a separate prize of return airfare for two to Calgary.
Winners will fly with Air Canada, which in addition to their Vancouver service, offers a daily Nanaimo-to-Calgary flight and will add a second flight to that route starting June 20.
Through the month, passengers on randomly-chosen inbound and outbound flights will receive a gift starting this week. Other in-terminal activities are planned to celebrate the passenger milestone.
“Really what the You’re One in 2 Million program is about is saying thank you to the community for supporting the Nanaimo Airport,” Hooper says.
The campaign wraps up in early June.
The airport’s rapid growth has had significant impact on the entire Central Island, says Hooper.
“A thriving airport gives residents more travel options, and airport operations injected nearly $100 million into the regional economy last year,” he says. More than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs were generated.