Alberta Southwest alliance links four municipal airports to boost region
A February aerospace study looking at investment attraction and regional resilience laid the groundwork for the new airport partnership in southwestern Alberta.
Why it matters
Coordinating airport strengths across rural municipalities could help southwestern Alberta attract aerospace investment that individual small communities might struggle to secure alone.
The Southwest Alberta Regional Alliance, known as Alberta Southwest, is partnering with four local governments to coordinate the region's airports rather than have them compete for business. The partnership involves Cardston County, the MD of Pincher Creek, the MD of Willow Creek and the Town of Fort Macleod.
Each airport brings distinct strengths to the collaboration. The Pincher Creek facility has a 6,600-foot runway with landing lights, an existing air tanker base, and is used for air ambulance transfers. The Willow Creek airport near Claresholm has a growing flight training program with room to expand further.
Alberta Southwest's Director of Investment Development, Sean Miles, said the assets are more compelling when promoted together than separately. The initiative stems from an aerospace study completed in February that examined investment attraction and regional resilience across southwestern Alberta.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.