Michael Bennett has been flying for a dozen years but today’s itinerary was a little bit more special.
The Porter Airlines pilot and North Bay native, was flying the inaugural flight into North Bay’s Jack Garland Airport this afternoon.
“I was a bit nervous because I knew people were watching and the president was on the flight but I did a good landing so I was happy with that,” said Bennett who made the request to pilot the first North Bay flight.
It’s a day a lot of people have been waiting for as the discount flyer made the July announcement that the airline would be flying into North Bay. The prices include $159 from North Bay to Toronto and $150 from North Bay to Timmins.
The new airline will now have non-stop flights from Toronto to Jack Garland Airport plus a second route featuring service between Timmins and North Bay.
Porter Airlines President and CEO Robert J. Deluce says the North Bay-Timmins route is the first direct flight among their Northern Ontario markets.
“The fact that we had a good number of passengers coming onto North Bay and a few going through to Timmins was a good sign and I think it all bodes well for a long and sustainable arrangement here in North Bay and hopefully one that will allow us with proper support to add additional service in the not too distant future,” said Deluce.
As for Bennett, he sees the benefit of flying into downtown Toronto as opposed to landing in busy Pearson International Airport.
“Oh it’s great. My family is really happy, my friends are as well. People from Toronto can come up here and get some fresh air and beautiful lakes here in North Bay, as well as the people of North Bay can get to Toronto and watch Blue Jays games,” he said.
