Medicine Hat Airport Sees Surge in Traffic Due to Student Pilots

The Medicine Hat Regional Airport in Alberta has experienced a significant increase in air traffic, largely driven by a surge in activity from high school students enrolled in a local flight academy. Claire Courty, a 17-year-old student, is among more than 50 participants who have taken to the skies numerous times this year, thanks to a program that integrates flight training with high school education.

The partnership between the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy and Super T Aviation, established six years ago, allows students to earn their private pilot’s license while completing their high school diploma. According to Logan Boyd, the airport manager, this initiative has played a crucial role in positioning Medicine Hat as one of the fastest-growing airports in Canada in terms of air traffic activity.

Statistics Canada reports that the airport has seen a remarkable 48 percent increase in takeoffs and landings in the first quarter of 2024, with a total of 28,263 movements, up from 19,097 the previous year. The flight academy is responsible for approximately one-third of these movements, accounting for about 4,700 flights, as noted by Doug Little, director of Super T Aviation.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicine Hat Regional Airport facilitated around 75,000 passengers annually. However, that figure dropped to about 33,000 in 2023. With the ongoing increase in training opportunities through the flight academy, Little anticipates the airport will exceed 30,000 movements in the next year.

The airport’s rise in traffic can also be attributed to the operations of HALO Air Ambulance, which provides emergency medical services in the region, and CanWest Air, a fixed-wing patient transfer service. Courty, who began her flight training with a “discovery flight” in September 2023, expressed her excitement about flying, stating, “It was really exciting. It was a lot of adrenaline.”

Students in the program spend a significant amount of their week at a new facility by the airport, balancing flight training alongside their high school studies. Courty is on track to become a commercial pilot, a path made more accessible by the academy’s lower tuition cost of $15,000, which is half the price of traditional flight schools. Since its inception in 2019, the academy’s enrollment has surged from just 11 students to 51 in 2025.

Reagan Weeks, superintendent of Prairie Rose Public Schools, highlighted the comprehensive skill development the program offers, including leadership and public speaking, which prepare students for future employment opportunities. She noted that a graduate from the inaugural class has recently secured a position as a commercial pilot with WestJet, marking a significant milestone for the academy.

The uptick in airport activity is particularly welcomed as Medicine Hat has yet to fully recover from the pandemic’s impact on air travel. The airport currently offers one daily flight to Calgary operated by WestJet’s Encore service, a stark contrast to the multiple carriers and flights available prior to the pandemic. Boyd emphasized that demonstrating increased activity at the airport could attract further investment and growth in the sector.

In line with these developments, Premier Danielle Smith has underscored the importance of enhancing regional and rural airports in Alberta’s transportation strategy. In 2024, the United Conservative government allocated $275,000 in grants to support an ongoing master plan for the Medicine Hat airport, which aims to address future expansion.

Selena McLean-Moore, director of Medicine Hat’s economic development team, described the flight academy as a vital asset for the region’s aerospace and defense industry. “Through the training, they are able to support a pipeline of workforce that could impact our defense and aerospace industry in southeast Alberta,” she remarked.

The burgeoning flight school and its positive impact on local air traffic underscore a promising future for Medicine Hat Regional Airport and the surrounding community. As more students take to the skies, the airport may once again become a pivotal hub for air travel in the region.