With 66,697 passengers processed in July, August, and September this year, it was the busiest three month period at Kamloops Airport since the first three months of 2020.

That is according to new data released Wednesday, which shows that while passenger numbers are up, there is still a long way to go to catch up to pre-pandemic figures.

Broken down further, there were 21,846 passengers at Kamloops Airport in July, 23,185 in August, and 21,666 in September 2022, a 134 per cent increase from the 28,773 total passengers during the same three-month period last year.

“We are looking forward to seeing those numbers continue to climb to pre-COVID levels, really looking to see a healthy recovery though this holiday and the winter season which like you said, is our peak season in Kamloops,” YKA Managing Director, Ed Ratuski, told NL News.

While promising, those third quarter numbers in 2022 are still about 21 per cent below the 84,748 passengers seen in the same three month period in 2019, the year before COVID-19 travel restrictions came into effect.

The year-to-date numbers for 2022 – 180,701 passengers – while up significantly from the 45,985 in 2021, are also still down about 33 per cent from the 269,726 during the first nine months of 2019.

“Passenger numbers for [the third quarter] reflect the continued recovery from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as passengers return to the skies for business and leisure travel,” Ratuski added.

“In this last push towards the end of the year, we’re looking to be at at least 70 per cent of our 2019 levels.”

That would indicate an estimate of about 253,000 passengers through all of 2022, compared to 104,385 seen in 2021 and 123,675 in 2020.

Back in 2019, there were a record 361,586 passengers processed at YKA, with Ratuski expecting to get close to those pre-pandemic figures by the end of next year.

“So right now, our forecasts are looking at in the 90 to 95 per cent range when we reach the end of 2023 but we’re constantly kicking up efforts to attract more business and find more options for travellers in and out of Kamloops,” he said.

While COVID-related travel restrictions have been lifted, Ratuski says people who are planning to travel during the upcoming holiday season should be wary of the ongoing challenges facing the airline industry when it comes to available crew and flight interruptions.

“[They should] monitor flight status closely for schedule adjustments,” Ratuski said, noting travellers should also check-in online so they can avoid extended wait times at the airport.