Sky high: Gander International Airport saw big jump in traffic in 2011

Last year was a busy one at the Gander International Airport, and there are no signs things are going to slow down anytime soon.

Gary Vey, President and CEO of the Gander International Airport Authority, is shown at his office that overlooks the tarmac. Traffic at the airport increased 19 per cent last year over 2010, the highest number of movements at the airport since 1989.

The airport posted a 19 per cent increase in traffic over the previous year, making it one of the most active years at the airport in recent memory. "It would certainly be a record increase in the last 20 or 30 years," said Gary Vey, President and CEO of the Gander International Airport Authority. "That's the biggest amount of traffic we've seen since 1989."

Mr. Vey said there are a number of factors that contributed to the growth. "It's a combination of the economy, and increased flight capacity here in Gander, and people are travelling more than they have in the past," he said. "It's a combination of all that." The coming year is poised to be just as busy. Air Canada recently announced it was adding a second daily flight between Gander and Labrador to its schedule.

"We just picked up that second flight, so we're hopeful that's going to be successful, and that should add to our numbers," said Mr. Vey. "We're really hoping for increased capacity. Demand is pretty high." The airport has direct, year-round service to Halifax, Goose Bay and St. John's, with seasonal service to Toronto, Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic and Cuba. More......