A push is on for expansion to the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport. A group of local stakeholders made a presentation to City Council this week, asking the City to create an airport authority that could work on a variety of projects including a longer runway and more space for hangars at the facility located about 13km northeast of the city.

Currently, there is a single paved runway in operation that is about 900 metres long and 23 metres wide which can accommodate smaller aircraft but not commercial planes. 

"We're aware of a couple of different operators that would like to relocate to Moose Jaw (and) base aircraft here that currently can't fly out of the airport due to the runway size," said Jarrett Johnson of JGL Livestock, who says they use the airport regularly. "I've had conversations that people who want to come to Moose Jaw and bring business people to the Spa for conferences and they're not able to."

"I've received an email from Integra Air from Alberta who wants to start a service between Moose Jaw and Calgary," said Greg Simpson of Simpson Seeds during Monday's presentation. "I think there's an opportunity now with the lack of service from Delta to Minneapolis for a service to there as well."

Recently, Delta Airlines announced they are pulling flights to the U.S. from Regina International Airport at the end of July.  They had been running daily flights to Minneapolis. 

The only full-size runways in Moose Jaw belong to 15 Wing and the company that operates the Flight Training School at the base was also part of the lobby group. 

"We're looking to see if there's a group of people that could have a vision..that could be leaders in the community," said CAE Canada's Maryse Carmichael. "Especially for the airport to be able to support the city and the businesses around Moose Jaw."

Council has agreed to explore the matter further but gave no commitment to creating an authority.