When will there be direct flights to Alberta? For the Nanaimo Airport team, this is a frequently asked question. 'We know that our passengers are looking to the future and for us to attract new air carriers and with them new routes and destinations', shares Mike Hooper CEO of Nanaimo Airport Commission. As a part of that growth strategy, the Nanaimo Airport issued a challenge in January 2012 to residents 'use it and they will come.' 'Each time you, your friends and your neighbors fly from YCD, we are one step closer to attracting a new carrier. Although the process of attracting a new carrier can take several years, the reality is the more passengers we attract, the more attractive we become as an airport to new carriers,' explains Hooper. more... See more text