Despite a sharp decline in passenger traffic due to the continuously evolving and unpredictable COVID-19 crisis, work to keep the airfield at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport operational hasn't changed one bit.
An army of 36 employees is responsible for clearing the 1.1 million square metres of pavement spread across the airfield of snow and ice. Grouped into four shifts, the workers are stationed at YWG around the clock so they're ready to respond to anything Mother Nature throws their way.
On top of passenger airlines, cargo planes, medical flights, and the neighbouring air force base also use the airfield - all of which haven't reduced their activity during the pandemic. The layout of YWG also means every runway, taxiway and apron must remain clean to allow planes to safely land in a multitude of situations, such as inclement weather conditions or flight diversion in case of an emergency.
To everyone working tirelessly to keep the airport operating in the midst of COVID-19 to continue to serve our community and help Canadians return home safely - thank you.
WATCH: Airfield maintenance crew explains what it takes to clear the runways, taxiways and aprons at YWG during a snowstorm
