The Village of Masset will replace its aging airport fuel truck with nearly $393,000 in provincial funding, in a move local officials say will help ensure reliable and safe operations for years to come.
The funding comes through the B.C. government’s Air Access Program, which is investing $6.2 million this year to support upgrades at 16 airports, heliports and water aerodromes across the province. Masset’s share of $392,883 will cover the cost of replacing its old 1988 International refueller truck at the municipal airport—equipment that is required for safe and reliable fueling operations.
“This would not have been possible without the support of all the Island communities—Daajing Giids, Skidegate, Port Clements, Old Massett—and the North Coast Regional District, along with our MLA Tamara Davidson and the Council of the Haida Nation, who all provided letters of support and a lot of hard work to make this happen,” the Village of Masset said in its announcement on Facebook.
MLA Tamara Davidson said the upgrade will help secure the airport’s long-term reliability.
“The Masset Municipal Airport is a travel hub for Haida Gwaii and is crucial for getting supplies and people on and off of the island,” said Davidson, who represents North Coast–Haida Gwaii. “Upgrading aging equipment at the airport will help make sure it stays reliable for years to come.”
The Masset airport is a critical link for Haida Gwaii, serving as a hub for essential supplies, medical travel and tourism. With no road connection to the mainland, reliable air service is vital for residents and businesses.
“Replacing aging equipment at the airport will ensure reliable and safe operations continue while promoting local travel options and economic growth,” Davidson added in a statement posted on social media.
Masset’s project is among 16 upgrades funded this year through the BC Air Access Program, which prioritizes improvements for smaller airports serving fewer than one million passengers annually.
Provincewide, funded projects include runway improvements in Comox, Courtenay and Vanderhoof; lighting and fuel system upgrades; wildlife-exclusion fencing in Fort St. James; upgraded weather monitoring at Fairmont Hot Springs; and a new permanent heliport for the remote community of Tipella to support air ambulances and medical visits.
“Through the B.C. Air Access Program, we’re supporting upgrades to airports that will improve access for vital communities across our province,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of transportation and transit. “These improvements to our rural and regional airports will help keep British Columbians connected and our economy on the move.”
Since 2017, the program has committed more than $70 million to infrastructure projects at 80 airports and air facilities in B.C.
Smaller airports are essential for services including medevac, wildfire suppression, emergency response, access to remote and Indigenous communities, tourism and economic development.
B.C. is home to more than 300 public airports, heliports and water aerodromes that connect communities, support local economies and help keep people safe. While airports are federally regulated, the province funds improvements recognizing their importance for rural, Indigenous and coastal communities.
The BC Air Access Program holds an annual intake for eligible communities every November and December.
