Smithers Airport
Northern
Airport service is important to all communities, but for those far from major centres - like Smithers and other northwest communities - it’s even more vital.
Smithers Regional Airport, like many small airports in British Columbia, came under the control of the community starting in 1999. The airport plays a critical role in serving Smithers and a host of other communities, including Burns Lake, Telkwa, Houston, Hazelton, Stewart, Granisle, New Hazelton, Kispiox Valley, Moricetown and the rural areas in between.
That’s why $1.4 million in provincial funding for an airport expansion project at Smithers is such big news. By extending its runway by 50 per cent to 7,500 feet and upgrading its navigational aids and security, Smithers Airport can accommodate a greater variety of jet aircraft. And that translates into increased economic activity in areas such as tourism and mining.
It’s estimated that the project will create up to 330 direct jobs and $60 million in economic activity by 2010, helping open the door to a stronger and more diversified northwest economy.
