Bearskin Airlines, a provider of passenger flights across Northern Ontario, has decided to cancel its flight route to Toronto citing competitive pressure and restructuring as the main reasons.
In 2001, Bearskin introduced a Toronto/Ottawa commuter route to Buttonville Municipal Airport outside Toronto. The Toronto route was successful among business travellers because it avoided the long delays common at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, a company official says, but competitive factors prevailed.
The airline also layed off about 45 workers, and is restructuring its Thunder Bay site. Bearskin also plans to replace its fleet of planes with Metroliner planes. Metroliners are a more versatile aircraft, equipped to carry about 19 passengers and allow for more cargo.
In its bid to restructure, Bearskins will be returning to what it calls its “core services” and will re-focus its flights to the North.
