Campbell River’s mayor says future plans for the Campbell River Airport will never be accomplished unless there’s a fundamental change.
Kermit Dahl says one of the reasons he ran for council was improving the airport.
“My intention was to either see the airport break even and more and more I’m realizing that I should have just wanted to see the airport closed. It continues to be operated through a bureaucracy that makes it impossible to be successful.”
Dahl says it needs to be run like a business.
His comments came Tuesday during a council committee meeting as consultants were gathering feedback for an updated airport business plan.
Dahl also pushed back on the suggestion that Comox tied up the passenger market, saying it was one of Campbell River’s “many screw ups.”
“So, we didn’t get to corner the market. We foolishly sent it to them,” he said.
The mayor also didn’t agree with the report suggesting the airport is well run.
“I see a business that anywhere else would be bankrupt. I don’t see bankrupt businesses as being well run,” he said.
Consultant Pat Maloney responded it was well run from the avionics side. “It’s an incredibly well run airport that way. It’s efficient, it’s safe, it’s that way….”
“It’s broke,” Dahl interjected. “It’s just a reality of finances and the taxpayers have no money left.”
The mayor is concerned the airport continues to cost taxpayers nearly $5 million for 5 per cent of all city expenses but is losing money.
Dahl doesn’t believe his vision of a self-sustaining airport will ever be accomplished.
