NORTH BAY - The business
community wants to see additional regional carriers at Jack Garland
Airport, although it might be a more direct route to make their pitch
directly to the airlines.
The North Bay and District Chamber of
Commerce held a news conference Wednesday to give input during municipal
budget talks and bring attention to long-term issues involving economic
development.
One of the areas of opportunity is at Jack Garland
Airport with additional carriers and transportation alternatives for the
North Bay area, said chamber president Derek Shogren.
He said negotiating landing fees are among the issues to attract these carriers.
“We may need to be more flexible in the future,” he said.
Air Canada Jazz currently offers regional flights from North Bay.
Discussions with other regional airlines have already been happening.
“I
fully support additional carriers in our community and have been
actively trying to attract them,” said Mayor Al McDonald, adding he has
had conversations with the airlines.
Jack Garland Airport has
also been working with North Bay's economic development department to
attract additional regional carriers, and presentations have been made
to both Porter Airlines -- which already flies out of other Northern
Ontario cities -- and WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Calgary-based WestJet
created its new regional airline Encore due to start services in June.
The company is expected to announce Jan. 21 whether its expansion will
start in Western or Eastern Canada.
North Bay could be in the running, said Jack Garland Airport manager Jack Santerre.
He wouldn't comment on those discussions, saying the airport would work with any new carrier to ensure their success.
Businesses interested in additional regional services should contact the airlines directly, he said.
“We've
made sure that WestJet knows we're interested,” said Coun. Daryl
Vaillancourt, a pilot who sits on the Jack Garland Airport board of
directors.
“We're also hopeful that we will be one of the communities they feel they can do business in.”
WestJet has purchased Q400 Bombardier turboprop planes for its regional service.
Source: http://www.nugget.ca
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