By SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
The Timmins Airport has continued to supply its usual services and has expanded its business.
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In early December, Jetsgo came on board to provide low-cost air carrier service to destinations across Canada and the United States, providing one flight a day Monday to Friday.
Beginning in early March, Jetsgo will be introducing weekday flight connections to Ottawa, Montreal, New York and Vancouver.
"Jetsgo has increased traffic at the airport and created more awareness of the airport," says Harley Nikkel, airport manager.
Jetsgo came to the Timmins airport after the two entities formulated a business plan, which benefitted both parties.
"Jetsgo has provided competition, which gives a choice of pricing and structure."
Jetsgo is attempting to position itself as the discount airline of Eastern Canada, and the market focus will be on regional markets within Eastern Canada.
"We felt the Timmins/Toronto route was well suited for our jet operation," says Michel Leblanc, president of Jetsgo. "It gives us additional business."
Jetsgo experienced good passenger loads through the holiday season and has some strong advanced booking into February, says Leblanc.
"The response in the business community and the surrounding area has just been great," says Leblanc.
Jetsgo will market its current plan for now with the possibility of expanding business to weekend flights in the future.
In early January, Air Canada Jazz began operating a CRJ 50-seat jet aircraft in Timmins, providing flights four times a day. Air Canada Jazz also began operating a Dash 8-300 in Timmins, providing daily service.
"Four out of five flights of the day, Monday to Friday are now jet operations," says Nikkel, adding the new activity has been advantageous for the airport.
"As the traffic builds and increases, so do associated sales and revenues," says Nikkel.
Other airlines such as Bearskin Airlines and Air Creebec are still providing services and are going strong, he says.
The Timmins Airport has carried out work on the facility to improve infrastructure, and will continue to work on an aggressive five-year capital plan. Two years ago they completed a major reconstruction of both runways at a cost of about $6 million. The next major project will be the reconstruction of the three taxiways in two years.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), a new federal agency, is also in place at the airport.
