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Renewed calls for airport improvements in northern Ontario

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A plea for improvements to Ontario’s northern airports.

Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says many airports in remote parts of the province are inadequate.

Most have gravel runways, aging terminal buildings and a lack of staff to properly manage them.

“Safety is a big concern at these airports,” says Mamakwa.

“But here in Toronto, the Premier’s priority is buying a jet that can’t land at any of them.”

Mamakwa adds that the airports are lifelines for the First Nations who rely on them.

But he says air passenger service has become too expensive for many.

“I checked on a flight from Big Trout Lake, one-way ticket from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug to Thunder Bay, today cost $1,800, one-way,” says Mamakwa.

The NDP member says the provincial government should be investing in northern Ontario’s air transportation system instead of in plans for the Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sakaria says they are working to improve the airports and develop more infrastructure.

“We’ll also work with our federal partners on any remote airports or airports in general, as they are partners in all of those projects with this province,” says Sakaria.

He adds northern Ontario will benefit from the province’s plans for the Billy Bishop Airport.

He notes that area municipal leaders are excited about the expansion plans, saying they will improve access to communities that are not often serviced.

“So as we build out this plan to support communities in the north to provide passengers, air passengers with more options, for cheaper options because of more competition in the market, the north will be a key part of that,” says Sakaria.

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Dryden Airport optimistic about service return

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Promising study results have Dryden Airport officials optimistic about the return of passenger service.

Julien Carron of InterVISTAs presented the findings of a Passenger Feasibility Study to city council last Monday, concluding with “a high level of confidence” that restoring air service is viable for the region.

“Air service is feasible. That’s full stop,” Carron told council. “What we have to look at now is scalability.”

Passenger service was terminated in 2024 after Bearskin Airlines left the region. Kenora and Fort Frances were left without service as well.

“Travel levels in Dryden, Kenora and Fort Frances have not rebounded to pre-COVID levels, posing significant challenges to the sustainability of our operations in these communities,” Bearskin’s parent company Perimeter Aviation said in a media release at the time. “Over the last year, the three destinations saw an average of two passengers per flight, reflecting the drastic reduction in demand for air travel in the region overall.”

Carron says strong pre‑pandemic demand and solid community support make the return of passenger service achievable.

“The community was very vocal about how important it was to get service back,” Carron said. “Not only to the economy, but the social factors in keeping connected to major hubs.”

He said there’s “a lot of movement” with airline companies beyond Bearskin, including Northstar, Pivot and PropAir.

“The great news right now is there are a lot of carriers operating in this space that are seeing the gap and seeing the need that Air Canada and say the top five (national carriers) are leaving behind or unable to fill,” Carron said.

Without air service, travel from Dryden to Thunder Bay can take up to seven hours via car in adverse winter road conditions.

“The north isn’t asking for a luxury,” said Maxx Kochar, Director of Airport Operations at Loomex Group, the firm responsible for the Dryden Airport. “It’s asking for a reliable link to essential services and opportunity. If the north is going to keep growing as an economic engine for Ontario and Canada, reliable connectivity is part of what makes that possible.”

Kochar says reliability is key to achieving pre-pandemic demand.

“The question came up: why did people stop flying?” Kochar said. “If you’re not meeting your customer’s requirements and expectations, they’re going to stop using your service. After enough cancellations and delays, people are going to choose driving.”

Carron says reliability concerns came up often in passenger surveys conducted by the firm.

“We have some competing forces on the regulation side of things as far as pilot hours, duty times and such,” Carron said. “We also have some challenges with equipment, aging equipment in our aircraft fleet. Shortages of pilots and shortages of mechanics are fighting against us when we talk about these size markets and some of the regional carriers.”

“But nonetheless […] I’m happy to say that (the Dryden Airport) is in a very good position as far as infrastructure is concerned.”

Kochar says he believes Dryden could be a hub for travel between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.

“A realistic start that they’re talking about is four round trips a week (to and from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg)”, Kochar said. “Compared to other airports it’s small, but at least you know that if you fly in you have the ability to leave again in a reasonable amount of time. A lot of business travelers will fly in, have a meeting, then fly out. So at least they’ll know they can do that.”

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Infrastructure funding program sought for small Ontario airports

A plea to the provincial government for a capital assistance program for small airports.

The Airport Management Council of Ontario says they struggle to find funding to maintain runways, lighting and other safety features.

Speaking before a legislative committee holding pre-budget hearings, Chief Executive Officer Laura McNeice would like a program similar to those in some western provinces.

“What we are bringing forward. . . we are proposing the creation of the Ontario Airport Capital Assistance Program,” says McNeice.

“We envision this program would be a $10 million program annually that is set aside by the Government of Ontario.”

McNeice says it would be administered by the Ministry of Transportation, and would be open to small airports and aerodromes that are not eligible for funding under a federal program.

McNeice says those airports are vital for services such as air ambulance, Ministry of Natural Resources wildfire suppression efforts and policing air operations.

McNeice says they are also key to economic development and tourism.

There are over 40 municipally-owned small airports, with another 18 publicly-owned that do not qualify for the federal capital assistance program.

Fort Frances lost its funding when Bearskin withdrew air passenger services.

McNeice says it leaves municipalities with having to bear the full cost of airport repairs.

“The municipalities are becoming more cash-strapped,” says McNeice.

“They have tighter budgets, and they are making decisions on what they are going to do with their funds. They may be able to continue with the operational aspect of it, but the safety of the airports is diminishing.”

Northern airports have access to funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, but the Council says that is geared toward new facilities.

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Vaccinated Travellers No Longer Need PCR COVID-19 Test To Enter Country

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Travellers will no longer need a PCR COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

Beginning Feb. 28, travellers can choose a rapid antigen test approved by the country they are coming from.

The federal government will also return to the random testing surveillance program for all vaccinated travellers.

“This means fully vaccinated travellers arriving in Canada from any country in the world will only need to take a PCR COVID-19 test if they are randomly selected,” said Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.

Travellers who are randomly selected will not be required to quarantine while waiting for test results.

Unvaccinated children travelling with vaccinated adults who arrive to Canada will no longer have to isolate from school or daycare for 14-days.

However, unvaccinated Canadians will still need to get tested at the airport and isolate.

As well, the ban on international flights at all remaining airports that normally receive them will be lifted on February 28.

“This is great news for communities like London, Windsor, Fort McMurray, Moncton, and many others, by receiving international flights this will support local tourism, create good jobs, and grow our economy,” said Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

Alghabra added the remaining airports will work with Transport Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency to put in place measures to start safely accepting travellers in the coming weeks and months.

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TSB To Probe Monday’s Dryden Airport Incident

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The Transporation Safety Board is going to have investigators in Dryden tomorrow.

They will be looking into the cause of Monday’s Bearskin Airlines crash which injured Thunder Bay curler Rick Lang.

The TSB says it will gather information and “assess the occurrence.”

Curler Krista McCarville, who was also on the plane, said the aircraft crashed into a snowbank as it was starting to take off. The propeller of the plane broke through the fuselage, striking Lang in the hand.

There were six passengers and crew on-board the aircraft at the time.

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Another Update For Dryden Airport Incident

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Dryden City officials have released another update regarding the incident that took place at the local airport on Monday.

Airport Manager Tiffany Coffey says at around 4:05pm “the aircraft became disabled off the side of the runway, 150 meters from the threshold, due to an aborted take-off on the initial take-off roll.”

Coffey then says “the Emergency Response Plan was activated and emergency crews attended the scene. Runway was reopened at 10pm following the removal of the aircraft and a runway inspection for foreign object debris”.

She adds that “emergency responders, airline, and airport personnel communicated and worked well together at the scene and have conducted an initial debrief”.

City Treasurer Steven Lansdell-Roll is proud of the personnel involved stating “our Emergency Response Plan was executed successfully in response to
this incident.”

Lansdall-Roll also says they “would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who responded and provided care”.

https://www.facebook.com/DrydenCanada/posts/900951413689789

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Change In Management At Dryden Airport

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The City of Dryden has entered into a contract with The Loomex Group, a leading aerospace operation firm to manage the Dryden Regional Airport.

The hand over will take place in December when long time Airport Manager Norm Sanders retires.

The group currently operates five other airports in Ontario and Western Canada and provides services to many airports and municipalities across Canada.

They focus on airport operations, emergency management, safety management and other municipal services.

Loomex Chief Executive Officer Trent Gervais says priority projects will include developing business and strategic plans to move the airport forward into the future.

Gervais says “We understand the operations, appreciate the hardworking airport staff, love the community and see great potential in the airport. Our team is excited to hit the ground running.”

Dryden Chief Administrative Officer Roger Nesbitt says the city and the Loomex Group have enjoyed a long-term partnership with training and emergency exercises.

“The airport is an important asset for the community, and we are excited to work with Loomex to carry on and enhance the great work the current management team has conducted.”

Nesbitt says the airport opened its doors in 1969 and serves the community as a critical piece of infrastructure for life safety, business development, leisure travel and provides a connection to the rest of the world.