Thanks, MP Bachrach. I appreciate the question, and I'm sorry for dropping out of the meeting. I had a connectivity issue, so I'm happy to be back.
I think what we hear is that there is depth in the big carriers. We have had smaller regional airlines come in, and there have been very good ones. One is based in Smithers. Central Mountain Air has its head office here but is unable to maintain service in and out of this airport. It relates to matching schedules and sometimes deeper cuts to fares. When that is combined with the loyalty programs that the major carriers have, it becomes untenable for the local airlines. In our case, the regional carriers still provide charter service to industrial projects out of here. They are able to make use of the airport, but it doesn't involve scheduled passenger service.
I've heard others talk about the critical nature of these airports, and it is critical. In this day and age, people need to have access to travel. If smaller carriers can't make it, we suffer, because people will make those decisions. We have talked in a very limited way to another major carrier, but I'm not sure there's enough room for two major carriers into this airport. There is definitely room for a regional carrier.
Also, when the flights are here, they are full. I think that's the other piece. When there aren't flights available, people travel down the road, or they do when the savings are deep enough to attract them to drive down the road. However, the airplanes are full. If the airplanes weren't full, I would feel differently about it, but the flights are full.