Skip to content

Business community hopes Air Canada is here to stay

'Yes, it is three flights a week but hopefully, the city will respond directly, utilize it and we will get additional flights as required'
AdobeStock_61986896
File photo of a Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft.

Chris Mayne admits he was very surprised to hear the announcement that Air Canada will return to offer service in North Bay at the end of the month.  

"Certainly, there were a lot of concerns a year ago when Air Canada cancelled their services from North Bay and literally put all of their equipment back on a truck to Toronto so we were concerned that services to North Bay would be suspended for a number of years," said Mayne, who is a Director on the Jack Garland Airport Board and is a North Bay City Councillor. 

Airport officials told BayToday that they expect 10-15 airline-related jobs will be returning as Air Canada Jazz is already retraining staff to prepare for the resumption of service which will begin with three flights a week between North Bay and Toronto.

"I think everyone is delighted to see that service resume," said Mayne.  

"There has always been a sense, especially with Jack Garland Airport that the numbers were there to justify business service to North Bay. As long as the economy starts to recover, and that is going to be a balance for everyone, but for anyone who has had to drive four hours back and forth to catch departing flights you more appreciate the convenience of having that connecting service from North Bay."

Peter Chirico, the President and CEO of the North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce has been very vocal about the Air Canada departure from North Bay last summer.   

"I was extremely critical of the withdrawal and certainly when they pulled out of North Bay the idea of being subsidized by taxpayers was certainly a big factor that if 'No Service, No Subsidy,' that really was what our message was," said Chirico.  

"We were overlooked and sort of just dumped to the curb and that was not right the way it was done but now I see Air Canada is trying to make it right and provide that service back to our citizens and our business people who really, really need this service and it will help our business community get to where they have to go. It will help our individuals and residents that need to get to medical appointments in Toronto so all of these things combined we are just very pleased that this is starting up.

"Yes, it is three flights a week but hopefully, the city will respond directly, utilize it and we will get additional flights as required."

See related: Local Air Canada service to resume June 28

Chirico says the lack of flights to Toronto from the Gateway City hampered a lot of businesses in the region including the film industry. 

"The film industry generates a lot of dollars for our businesses here and getting actors, directors, producers to the north, that presented a big problem as well so not only just our normal business but the film industry that provides some economic benefit, especially in our hospitality sectors," noted Chirico.  

Chirico hopes that the region supports Air Canada to make sure they don't leave for good.  


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
Read more

Reader Feedback