Flights between Vancouver and Powell River may be grounded during the 2010 Winter Olympics because of airport security measures.
From Jan. 29 to March 24, 2010, all flights coming into Vancouver will have to be secure, involving machine screening of baggage and individual passengers, before being allowed to land at Vancouver International Airport.
Spencer Smith, vice-president of Pacific Coastal Airlines, said full security needs to be in place at the Powell River airport in order for air service between Powell River and Vancouver to continue as it has.
"If that doesn't happen at the Powell River airport, there are a couple of options," he said.
The options for Powell River are to have screening put in place at the airport, fly to an airport that has security measures in place or have no service into Vancouver during the Olympics.
"Those are the three real options," said Spencer.
The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit is responsible for security during the 2010 Winter Olympics, but there is no budget to accommodate the extra costs the security measures will have on regional airlines.
Diverting airplanes to other airports for screening would add hours and cost, Spencer said. "There's just a general expectation that we'll stop our airplanes in a different city," he said.
It could cost the airline upwards of $250,000, Spencer said.
"That's why we have to seriously consider if we are going to offer service in some of these communities during that period of time," he added.Daryl Smith, founder and CEO of Pacific Coastal, met with provincial officials, including Solicitor General John van Dongen and MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast Nicholas Simons, in Vancouver on March 13.
Smith said they also had a conference call with MP John Weston, who represents the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky riding."He was really interested in what we had to say," he said. "He is going to take it to the minister of transport in Ottawa. That's a good step in the right direction."
Simons said the impact of these changes will be more than simple inconvenience.
"It will have a negative effect on businesses, residents and tourists alike," he said. "We're all willing to put up with some inconvenience, but some attempt at finding solutions should be made."
Simons said the Solicitor Generalcouldn't explain why three airports were allocated these security measures through the Olympic security budget (Boundary Bay, Langley and Pitt Meadows) but "we up in Sechelt and Powell River were left out."
"Why some airports were given special consideration in the first placeis beyond me," added Simons. "The Solicitor Generalsaid that he appreciated hearing about the problem and seemed genuinely concerned aboutfinding a solution to this issue. Hesaid hewould be working to find an outcome that would meet the needs of the community."
Calls to West Coast Air and Tofino Air for comment on whether the enhanced security measures would effect their Sechelt operations were not returned by press deadline Thursday.-With files from Ian Jacques
