Members of Port Hawkesbury’s airport committee say they would be willing to turn the airport over to the owners of Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, provided they meet some conditions.
Trevor Boudreau, the chair of the Allan J. MacEachen Regional Airport Committee and a Port Hawkesbury town councillor, says it would be a mistake to open another small airport in Inverness, but he also understands the value the two golf courses bring to the region.
He says Cabot reps taking control of Port Hawkesbury’s airport would be a better alternative than building a new airport in Inverness.
Boudreau tells The Hawk they could bring in commercial flights and maintain currently available services.
“It’s not just about having an airport in Inverness for them to have for themselves, right? This is about, okay, if they need commercial air, and that’s vital to their success, then maybe we have a conversation about how that works here,” he says. ” We have services here that, if this airport was to fold because of Inverness and they’re only operating four-to-five months a year, then those services aren’t being provided.”
Boudreau says he understands why increased traffic to Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs is good for the region, but the economic benefit of an Inverness airport wouldn’t cover the loss of services at Port Hawkesbury’s facility.
He says he wants a solution that helps Cabot reps, while also maintaining services provided at Port Hawkesbury’s airport.
“We’re all the same taxpayer,” he says. “At the end of the day, what makes the most sense is reducing the risk to taxpayers while trying to provide a service that is required- or needed- for all.”
Boudreau says he would consider signing away ownership, as long as Cabot reps commit to maintaining current services year-round.
