Olympics security could ground regional flights to Vancouver
Flights between Vancouver and many rural areas across B.C. may be grounded during the 2010 Winter Olympics because of airport security plans, one of B.C.'s regional airlines is warning.
Olympics security officials say all airline passengers must clear security before being allowed to land at Vancouver International Airport and Vancouver's downtown harbour airport during the Winter Games next February.
That means delays are expected for flights taking off between Victoria's harbour airport and Vancouver, a route serviced by companies such as Harbour Air and Helijet. Screening facilities will be installed in the harbour airports, and both passengers and baggage will be screened, just like at regular airports.
The expected screening procedures will cause some frequent travellers, such as Chris Carleton, who often flies out of Vancouver harbour, to hold off on flying.
"During those two months in general I would avoid travel just because there is going to be a lot of activity."
Many B.C. airports, such as those in Trail, Powell River and Bella Bella, don't currently screen departing passengers, and thus far there are no official plans to upgrade security at those rural airports.
That means flights could get redirected to Abbotsford airport, east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, or Comox airport, on Vancouver Island, to clear security before flying on to Vancouver. Such a procedure would add hours and costs, according to Pacific Coastal Airlines vice-president Spencer Smith.
"We're looking at upwards of $250,000 of extra fuel costs, diversions, ground staff costs," Smith told CBC News on Monday.
Implementing those security diversions or upgrading security at local airports might be too costly to make the flights worth operating, Smith said.
Service cut 'a definite possibility'
"The third option, which is obviously not the preferable option, is we simply choose not to provide service during that time," Smith said.
"That's not the preferred option, but it's a definite possibility if it gets to the point where it's too cumbersome, it's too costly and there's no budget to help us cover the costs."
Katrine Conroy, NDP MLA for West Kootenay-Boundary, also wondered who will end up paying for whatever extra security protocols are adopted.
"Is it going be the municipalities, is it going be the tourists that are coming, is it going to be the airlines, none of which can afford to cover those costs? So who's going to cover the costs of security out in rural B.C.?" Conroy said.
B.C. Finance Minister Colin Hansen dodged questions on the potential costs Monday in the legislature, saying they are the responsibility of the federal government and the RCMP, which is handling all airport security for the Games.
No one from the RCMP's Vancouver Integrated Security Unit was available for comment.