The Region of Waterloo International Airport expects to shed almost 100,000 passengers this year as Flair Airlines trims flights.

Planners now estimate 425,000 passengers will use the airport in 2025, down almost 20 per cent from last year’s peak of 523,000 passengers.

It still counts as a strong year historically after the airport saw just 77,000 passengers in 2019.

“Obviously we want to continue to grow year over year,” Wood said. “But I think it’s still a significant achievement for us to hit those numbers.”

The airport is still considering how it might grow if passengers return.

Growth over 20-plus years could include extending both runways, expanding the current passenger terminal and building a new, relocated passenger terminal, says a new government report that drops plans for

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