Two people in management positions at the Charlottetown Airport Authority have lost their jobs because of the financial impact of COVID-19.
"What we are going through right now is truly unprecedented, and the travel and tourism sector has been hit particularly hard by this pandemic," said Doug Newson, CEO of the airport authority, in a statement on Wednesday to The Guardian.
The job losses occurred on Tuesday and have reduced the number of full-time staff from 23 to 21.
"It was truly heartbreaking to have to deliver this news to extremely dedicated and loyal employees, but unfortunately, we have to address the new realities that our airport is facing to ensure our sustainability and viability moving forward."
Two seasonal positions were also not filled this summer.
Passenger traffic has been reduced by 95 per cent in recent months due to the pandemic, which has also severely impacted revenues at the airport.
To address the challenges of COVID-19, the airport authority reduced operating costs, cancelled or deferred capital projects and accessed government programs. Even so, the airport authority had to make the difficult decision to eliminate the management positions, added Newson.
"The road to recovery is expected to be a challenging one that could take several years. This has forced us to review all aspects of our business," he said.
