YQQ Continues Steady Growth into Second Quarter

VANCOUVER, July 18, 2012 /CNW/ - The Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) announced today that it served 81,188 passengers in the second quarter of 2012, the equivalent of 597 Boeing 737 planes.

This new data shows an increase of nine per cent or 6,676 passengers over the same quarter in 2011.

Growth was heaviest in the month of June which achieved a 17 per cent increase or 4,451 passengers more over the same month in 2011.

YQQ Monthly Passenger Breakdown

First Quarter

	2009	2010	2011	2012
January	19,921	21,681	21,930	25,322
February	19,817	19,788	20,715	22,884
March	21,965	24,633	24,466	26,222

Second Quarter

	2009	2010	2011	2012
April	21,762	22,732	23,991	26,103
May	23,473	23,678	24,800	24,913
June	25,037	23,798	25,721	30,172

The airport's strategic plan calls for an annual increase of three per cent, which could place YQQ's annual passenger numbers as high as 344,125 by 2015.  Data for the first half of 2012 puts YQQ well on its way of accomplishing that goal, with the first quarter achieving 11 per cent in growth followed by nine per cent in the second quarter.

"We are progressing well and achieving the steady, sustainable growth laid out in our strategic plan," said Fred Bigelow, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport.  "We are optimistic about our future growth as we continue to focus our efforts on securing additional air service at YQQ."

For more information about the Comox Valley Airport and its strategic direction visit: www.comoxairport.com.

Media Contact:

Christianne Wile
Manager, Marketing and Public Communications
Comox Valley Airport Commission
250-890-0829 ext. 253
[email protected]