Lloydminster and Cold Lake officials are renewing their push for scheduled commercial air service as the Alberta government considers subsidies that could help restore regional flights to the area.
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said last month the province is evaluating proposals from airlines and suggested subsidies could help connect smaller communities while supporting defence-sector investment, according to a CBC News report. Smith said regional air service at the Lloydminster airport or at CFB Cold Lake would also help the federal government meet its NATO commitments.
Lloydminster Working With Carriers, Both Provinces
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said the city has been working with airline carriers, the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the federal government to bring commercial flights back to the Lloydminster Municipal Airport.
“Having regional air service that provides conductivity to major international airports is critical for the growth of the economy, for the health of the community, for professionals, for families that want to connect with family and tourism,” Aalbers said.
Lloydminster lost its once-a-day WestJet flight to Calgary in 2024. Aalbers said the airport previously saw as many as six flights a day.
He said he would like to see morning and evening flights connecting Lloydminster to Calgary, Edmonton or Saskatoon.
“With the growth of the oil and gas industry and other projects that are tentatively planned, it’s going to be important to be able to get people here as quickly as possible and get them back to where they want to go,” Aalbers said.
A 2023 study commissioned for the region suggested the area could generate more than 325,000 potential air passengers, Aalbers said. He said most respondents wanted flights to Edmonton or Saskatoon, while some businesses were interested in Calgary service, and that provincial subsidies would be appreciated to help sustain any new routes.
Cold Lake Eyes First-Ever Commercial Service
Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice said the city is hoping to establish passenger air service for the first time after roughly two decades of discussion.
Mattice said flights would likely operate through CFB Cold Lake, which already has air traffic control and infrastructure capable of handling commercial aircraft. The base, which regularly draws crowds for the Cold Lake Air Show, would see added benefit from commercial service given recent increases in federal defence spending, he said.
“We are so ready for this. It’s just a matter of being able to work with the government,” Mattice said.
Province Says Incentive Program Details Coming This Fall
Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright said in a statement that the Alberta government is committed to enhancing regional air service and invited expressions of interest from aviation companies in June, according to CBC News.
Wright said the province continues to assess options for a regional air service incentive program and anticipates providing program information to regional airports this fall.
No timeline has been announced for when commercial flights could resume at either airport, and officials in both cities say talks with carriers and government are ongoing.
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