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  • Porter Summer Schedule Expands Flights Across North America

    New service to Nashville

    Six new routes and more frequency across Canada

    original Porter Airlines is announcing its 2026 summer schedule with new destinations, new routes, added frequencies and the continuation of popular winter markets.

    29 January 2026

    TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Porter Airlines is announcing its 2026 summer schedule with new destinations, new routes, added frequencies and the continuation of popular winter markets.

    Porter’s U.S. network continues to expand with new flights to Nashville International Airport (BNA)—served from Toronto City (YTZ). Boston (BOS) also sees new service from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL).

    Further enhancing service across Canada, Porter is introducing six new routes across Toronto Pearson, Hamilton (YHM) and Ottawa (YOW). Beginning May 1, service in Sudbury (YSB) and Windsor (YQG) moves to Ottawa from Toronto City, providing travellers with non-stop access from these cities to Porter’s growing hub in the national capital and greater connectivity across North America.

    A summary of new destinations and routes follows:

    New routesStart dateFrequency
    Ottawa – WindsorMay 1, 20267x weekly
    Ottawa – SudburyMay 1, 20267x weekly
    Toronto City – Nashville*May 11, 20267x weekly
    Toronto Pearson – Quebec City (returning)May 12, 202612x weekly
    Ottawa – KelownaMay 13, 20265x weekly
    Toronto Pearson – BostonMay 14, 202614x weekly
    Montreal – BostonMay 14, 20267x weekly
    Hamilton – St. John’sMay 15, 20265x weekly
    Hamilton – WinnipegMay 15, 20264x weekly

    *New destination

    In addition to new routes, Porter is increasing capacity for several popular existing seasonal domestic markets, providing even more options for Canadians to explore their own backyard.

    RoutesInitial frequencyNew frequency
    Ottawa – Winnipeg7x weekly12x weekly
    Toronto Pearson – Deer Lake3x weekly5x weekly
    Hamilton – Halifax7x weekly14x weekly

    A number of popular winter seasonal routes are also being extended through summer from Toronto Pearson to Cancun (CUN), Costa Rica (LIR) and Nassau (NAS), Hamilton to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), as well as from Ottawa to Cancun. Porter is the only airline offering travellers access to sun destinations from Ottawa this summer.

    RoutesFrequency
    Toronto Pearson – CancunUp to 6x weekly
    Toronto Pearson – Costa Rica2x weekly
    Toronto Pearson – Nassau2x weekly
    Hamilton – Fort Lauderdale2x weekly
    Ottawa – Cancun3x weekly

    On every flight, passengers enjoy Porter’s signature service, including no middle seats, complimentary wine and beer served in glassware and premium snacks. Routes operated with the new Embraer E195-E2 also have free, fast WiFi available for everyone.

    Full schedule details are available at www.flyporter.com.

    Quotes

    “We are making a substantial increase in flights for Porter this summer, touching on every region we fly to,” said Andrew Pierce, vice president, network planning and reporting, Porter Airlines. “Our overall network is growing by 20%, the fastest rate for any airline in North America, as we continue providing service for more passengers. Our long-standing commitment to a distinct elevated economy experience continues to result in exceptional customer satisfaction.”

    “We are pleased that Porter Airlines is continuing to grow its service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport with the addition of Nashville,” said RJ Steenstra, president and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “Famed for its live music scene, creative industries and rich history, Nashville is a strong addition to our growing network of destinations. As Toronto’s downtown airport, we provide a convenient and efficient gateway to key destinations across Canada and the U.S., and we’re excited to make it easier for people to experience all that Nashville has to offer. This service will benefit from the new U.S. CBP Preclearance facility that will open in the coming weeks at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and will offer even greater convenience to our passengers.”

    “Porter Airlines’ arrival at Nashville International Airport (BNA) represents an exciting expansion of our international connectivity,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA). “Nonstop access to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) gives our passengers a convenient and highly desirable connection to the heart of Toronto, and it reflects the continued demand we’re seeing from both business and leisure travelers in Middle Tennessee. We’re proud to welcome Porter as our newest airline partner at BNA and look forward to the start of service in May 2026.”

    About Porter
    Since 2006, Porter Airlines has been elevating the experience of economy air travel for every passenger, providing genuine hospitality with style, care and charm. Porter’s fleet of Embraer E195-E2 and De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft serves North America, including a coast-to-coast domestic Canadian network, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Headquartered in Toronto, Porter is an Official 4 Star Airline® in the World Airline Star Rating®. Visit www.flyporter.com

  • Air Canada Announces Changes to its Regional Network

    • New Fredericton to Ottawa, and Moncton to Ottawa daily flights
    • New Fort McMurray to Vancouver flights, three times weekly
    • More Sudbury to Toronto flights, increasing from two to three flights daily

    MONTRÉAL, Sept. 19, 2025 /CNW/ – Air Canada today announced changes to its regional network that include new flights connecting Ottawa to both Fredericton and Moncton beginning Dec. 15, 2025, and non-stop flights from Vancouver to Fort McMurray starting Dec. 2, 2025. The airline is also increasing flights from Toronto to Sudbury as of Feb. 1, 2026. All flights will be operated with Air Canada Express Q400 aircraft. Flights are now available for purchase at aircanada.com, through Air Canada Contact Centres, and via travel agents.

    Air Canada today announced changes to its regional network that include new flights connecting Ottawa to both Fredericton and Moncton beginning Dec. 15, 2025, and non-stop flights from Vancouver to Fort McMurray starting Dec. 2, 2025. (CNW Group/Air Canada)
    Air Canada today announced changes to its regional network that include new flights connecting Ottawa to both Fredericton and Moncton beginning Dec. 15, 2025, and non-stop flights from Vancouver to Fort McMurray starting Dec. 2, 2025. (CNW Group/Air Canada)

    “Air Canada is diversifying its domestic regional network this fall to capitalize on travel demand in growing markets. Our newest Ottawa routes will connect the National Capital Region to two expanding areas in New Brunswick – its capital city, Fredericton, and Moncton, the province’s largest urban and fastest growing area. We have strategically designed these New Brunswick flights to connect in Ottawa to and from our domestic and sun network for additional travel choices,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo at Air Canada.

    “The addition of non-stop flights from Fort McMurray to Vancouver, and more flights from Sudbury to Toronto will link these airports directly to our Vancouver and Toronto hubs, bringing corporate travellers a multitude of connecting options throughout our global network,” concluded Mr. Galardo.

    FlightFromToDepart  Arrive  Days of
    Operation      		Season
    AC2548  Ottawa (YOW)Fredericton
    (YFC)    		15:4018:10dailyYear-round,
    begins Dec. 15  
    AC2549Fredericton
    (YFC)    		Ottawa (YOW)16:1517:00dailyYear-round,
    begins Dec. 15
    AC7890Ottawa (YOW)Moncton
    (YQM)    		17:5520:40dailyYear-round,
    begins Dec. 15
    AC7891Moncton
    (YQM)    		Ottawa (YOW)05:5007:00dailyYear-round,
    begins Dec. 16
    AC7790Vancouver
    (YVR)    		Fort McMurray  
    (YMM)    		15:1018:31Tue, Wed,
    Thur    		Year-round,
    begins Dec. 2
    AC7791Fort McMurray  
    (YMM)    		Vancouver
    (YVR)    		19:1020:47Tue, Wed,
    Thur    		Year-round,
    begins Dec. 2

    Sudbury increased capacity

    RouteIncrease compared to previous year                               
    Sudbury (YSB) to Toronto (YYZ)         Seat capacity increases 50%; flights increase from 2 to 3
    daily flights, year-round, effective Feb. 1, 2026

    As part of these network adjustments, Air Canada is also taking the difficult decision to suspend operations to Bathurst and to North Bay effective Jan. 30, 2026, for commercial viability reasons. Air Canada will implement these suspensions in line with its obligations under the Canada Transportation Act.

    This winter, Air Canada will offer over 60,000 seats each day on more than 500 daily flights to 49 destinations across Canada.

    About Air Canada

    Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada’s climate-related ambition includes a long-term aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

  • WestJet’s summer 2025 schedule secures airline’s position as Ontario’s second-leading airline with new Sudbury route and increased frequency

    TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2024 /CNW/ -Today WestJet published its summer 2025 schedule, including domestic seat capacity growth of 14 per cent out of Toronto Pearson and 36 per cent out of Ottawa, compared to summer 2024. These strategic service increases will optimize seamless and reliable connectivity for business travellers between Ontario and Western Canada, and for leisure travellers to sun destinations in the United States and Caribbean. In addition, the airline is returning its service to Sudbury for the first time since 2018, unlocking new connectivity between Northern Ontario and WestJet’s global hub in Calgary.

    “WestJet is thrilled to return to Sudbury with the first ever nonstop service between Sudbury and Calgary, as part of our commitment to connecting Ontario with Western Canada” said John Weatherill, WestJet Group, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. “WestJet’s summer 2025 schedule represents our largest increase in domestic capacity out of Pearson since 2022 as we now serve 35 destinations in the summer season.”

    As the largest metropolitan area in Canada without WestJet service, the airline is proud to introduce the first ever scheduled flights between Sudbury and Western Canada. In addition, the airline has added notable increases in services between a number of destinations:

    RoutePeak weekly
    frequency    		Start dateIncrease over
    summer 2024
    Calgary – Sudbury2x weeklyJune 12, 2025New service
    Ottawa – Calgary26x weeklyYear-round18 per cent
    Edmonton – Ottawa13x weeklyYear-round117 per cent
    Aruba – Toronto4x weeklyYear-round33 per cent
    Fort Lauderdale – Toronto6x weeklyYear-round20 per cent
    Kingston – Toronto4x weeklyYear-round33 per cent
    Tampa Bay – Toronto4x weeklyYear-round33 per cent

    To support the ongoing schedule enhancements in Ontario, and beyond, WestJet has recently reaffirmed its commitment to providing world-class reliable air travel all year long. To learn more about the changes being made to fortify WestJet’s operational resiliency, visit the WestJet newsroom. 

    Additional quotes

     “WestJet has been a long-standing and successful partner at YOW. This significant increase in service to their Calgary hub not only enhances non-stop access to YYC but also opens up a wide range of destinations across WestJet’s extensive western network.” Joel Tkach, Vice President, Business Development & Marketing, Ottawa International Airport Authority.

     “We are incredibly excited to welcome WestJet back as they launch their new direct flight to Calgary from Greater Sudbury—Northeastern Ontario’s first-ever connection to Western Canada,” said Giovanna Verrilli, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Sudbury Airport. “This historic new route represents a significant milestone for our region, linking our community to the economic, cultural, and travel opportunities of Alberta and beyond. At the Greater Sudbury Airport, we are proud to support this new seasonal service, enhancing connectivity for residents and businesses while fostering growth and opportunity for our region.”

    About WestJet

    In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26 countries.

    For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

  • Passenger experience number one for new Sudbury airport CEO

    Web News • 28 October 2022

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  • Northern Ontario residents can escape to the tropics with Sunwing this winter with the return of weekly flights from Sudbury and North BayThe tour operator will be offering weekly flight service from Sudbury to Punta Cana and from North Bay to Varadero starting in December

    The tour operator will be offering weekly flight service from Sudbury to Punta Cana and from North Bay to Varadero starting in December

    TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Starting in mid-December, residents of Northern Ontario can escape the cold and look forward to more sun, sand and sea with the return of weekly Sunwing flights to some of the most popular sun destinations. Sunwing will be offering weekly flights from Sudbury to Punta Cana and from North Bay to Varadero, two of the most popular sun destinations that are well loved by customers for their warm climates, prime beachfront locations and range of resorts tailored to every style and budget.

    “We are thrilled to return to Northern Ontario this winter season and provide weekly flights to some of the most loved Sunwing destinations from Sudbury and North Bay airports,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “After a challenging few years, demand for all inclusive travel is rapidly surging. Plus, with a cold winter season on the horizon, it’s the perfect opportunity for Northern Ontario residents to escape to the sun and enjoy an all inclusive Sunwing vacation in paradise. What’s more, they can easily travel from their airport of choice, spending less time getting to their destination, for a seamless getaway under our wing.”

    Sunwing will be offering weekly flights from Sudbury to Punta Cana on Wednesdays starting on December 14, 2022 until April 12, 2023, and weekly flights from North Bay to Varadero on Thursdays starting on December 15, 2022 until April 13, 2023.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Sunwing back to Greater Sudbury for another season,” said Givoanna Verrilli, CEO of the Greater Sudbury Airport. “Sunwing’s direct flight service from Sudbury to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is a very popular and convenient sun destination choice for Sudbury travellers.”

    “We are excited for Sunwing’s return to North Bay this winter season, which is providing additional flight options for the region,” added Bryan Avery, Airport Manager for North Bay Jack Garland Airport Corporation. “With travel restrictions behind us, many residents are eager to get back to the tropics and travel directly from North Bay. We’re so pleased to partner with Sunwing to offer convenient travel options to Varadero, Cuba. With a short flight departing from North Bay, residents can easily leave work, worries and winter behind this coming season.”

    Residents of Northern Ontario can do more, explore more and celebrate more in paradise this winter season, and enjoy savings of up to 40% on vacation packages during Sunwing’s Save More Event*, on now until November 6, 2022. Plus, for a limited time, customers can enjoy added perks such as room upgrades on select packages. For even more value, customers can add one of Sunwing’s Worry Free insurance plans and enjoy added peace of mind when travelling this winter.

    *Terms and conditions apply.

    About Sunwing

    The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the company’s own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

  • New CEO for Sudbury Airport says ‘recovery from COVID will be critical’

    Web News • 19 August 2022

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  • Air Canada’s Summer 2022 Schedule Adjustments

    2 July 2022 – Air Canada 🔗

    This week, Air Canada announced changes to its summer schedule to support unprecedented and unforeseen strains on our organization. International flights are unaffected, with a few timing changes to reduce flying at peak times. Flights adjusted are to and from our Toronto and Montreal hubs. These will be mostly frequency reductions, affecting primarily evening and late-night flights by smaller aircraft, on transborder and domestic routes. Four routes will be temporarily suspended.

    Temporary Route Suspensions:

    Montreal – Kelowna
    Montreal – Baltimore
    Montreal – Pittsburgh
    Toronto – Fort McMurray

    Frequency Reductions

    Toronto – Deer Lake: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 1 flight daily
    Toronto – Saint John: reduce 2 frequencies, now operating 1 flight daily
    Toronto – Charlottetown: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Toronto – Quebec City: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 4 flights daily
    Toronto – North Bay: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 1 flight daily
    Toronto – Timmins: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Toronto – Sudbury: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Toronto – London, ON: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 4 flights daily
    Toronto – Windsor: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Toronto – Winnipeg: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 5 flights daily
    Toronto – Edmonton: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 7 flights daily
    Toronto – Calgary: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 11 flights daily
    Toronto – Vancouver: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 14 flights daily
    Toronto – Boston: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 6 flights daily
    Toronto – LaGuardia: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 9 flights daily
    Toronto – Newark: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 6 flights daily
    Toronto – Baltimore: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Toronto – Philadelphia: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Toronto – Washington (DCA): reduce 1 frequency in August, will operate 2 flights daily (3 flights remain for July)
    Toronto – Miami: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 1 flight daily
    Toronto – San Francisco: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Montreal – Moncton: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Montreal – Fredericton: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Montreal – Saint John: reduce 1 frequency, now operating total 1flights
    Montreal – Halifax: reduce 1 frequency in August, will operate total 3 flights daily (4 flights remain through August 3)
    Montreal – Ottawa: reduce 2 frequencies, now operating 6 flights daily
    Montreal – Quebec: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 4 flights daily
    Montreal – Toronto (Island): no weekend operations and Friday reduced to 3 flights daily
    Montreal – Edmonton: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Montreal – Calgary: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 4 flights daily
    Montreal – Boston: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Montreal – LaGuardia: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 4 flights daily
    Montreal – Newark: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 3 flights daily
    Montreal – Fort Lauderdale: reduce 1 frequency, now operating 2 flights daily
    Ottawa – Toronto (Island): no weekend operations

    Route Retimes:

    Montreal – Los Angeles
    Montreal – Las Vegas
    Montreal – Punta Cana
    Montreal – Fort Lauderdale
    Montreal – Winnipeg
    Montreal – Edmonton
    Toronto – Manchester
    Toronto – Edinburgh
    Toronto – Copenhagen
    Vancouver – Portland
    Vancouver – Regina
    Vancouver – Cranbrook

  • Sunwing pulls flights from Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie

    From CTV News – link to source story – Thanks to RG

    Brendan Connor, CTVNorthernOntario.ca Co-anchor (CTV News at 6) | November 22, 2021

    https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2020/8/13/sunwing-1-5062993-1629932854940.jpg

    SUDBURY – 

    CTV News has learned that vacation airline Sunwing is bailing out of most of northern Ontario this winter.

    The airline is cancelling its sun destination flights from North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

    Sunwing has cancelled its planned Friday departures from Sudbury to Varadero, Cuba, and its Saturday flights to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

    Similar flights planned out of North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie are also cancelled. Sunwing will still offer service out of Thunder Bay.

    Greater Sudbury Airport CEO Todd Tripp says it’s “devastating news” for the northern aviation business, and forces people to drive to Toronto in winter weather to catch their flights.

    “I can appreciate this was a difficult decision for Sunwing, but without more airports with approval by the Federal Transport Minister to offer CBSA service for international flights, this leaves the air carrier few options from which to operate,” Tripp said.

    “Many people from our region look forward to the annual seasonal sun program to help break up the long winter. The ability to catch a flight near home instead of the long drive to Toronto was definitely a key factor.”

    CTV News has sent messages to Sunwing seeking comment, but has not yet received a response. RELATED IMAGES

    THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

  • Air traffic ‘moving in the right direction’ at regional airports in northeast

    From CBC News – link to source story

    Airport experts in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie both say they’re seeing more passengers, additional flights

    CBC News · Jul 14, 2021

    The Sudbury airport recently saw an increase in Air Canada flights from one to two per day.

    Air traffic in and out of the Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie airports is starting to pick up with more passengers on planes, but their Chief Executive Officers say they’re not out of the woods just yet.

    The aviation industry took a big hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-essential travel was non-existent over the 16 months, and many airports struggled.

    Now that restrictions are lifting, and more people are fully vaccinated, things are looking up for those who work in aviation.

    “We’re starting to see some growth and some pickup of traffic.” said Todd Tripp, CEO for the Greater Sudbury Airport. “We hope to see better activity come the Stage three reopening on Friday.”

    Todd Tripp is the CEO of the Greater Sudbury Airport. He says after the 16-month ordeal with the pandemic, flights are starting to increase and more passengers are on those planes. (Roger Corriveau/CBC)

    According to Tripp, Air Canada has increased its flights from the airport to twice a day. Porter has announced it will return its services in October, and Sunwing will begin operating from the airport in December.

    Prior to the pandemic, Air Canada scheduled seven flights a day from the Sudbury Airport, Porter had three or four flights a day and Bearskin seven to eight flights a day.

    Terry Bos, president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation says there have been noticeable improvements in recent weeks as the province gradually reopens. 

    Encouraging in Sault Ste. Marie

    In June, he says there were more than five times as many passengers travelling through the Sault airport compared with the same month last year. And while the number of flights and passengers are still well below pre-pandemic levels, Bos is feeling hopeful.

    “Overall things are certainly looking encouraging, and it’s the first time in a long time that things have actually looked promising and encouraging, so it seems to be moving in the right direction finally,” he said.

    Air Canada also increased its flights out of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport from once to twice a day. Porter is also set to return in October. Bos said Bearksin Airlines continued to offer flights from the Sault throughout the pandemic, just with a reduced flight schedule. Pre-pandemic those numbers were five flights a day for Air Canada, three for Porter and six from Bearskin.

    Terry Bos is the president and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation. (Sault Ste Marie Airport Development Corporation)

    The Sault airport has been relying heavily on government wage subsidies to survive the pandemic. Bos said they qualified for the maximum amount. They also reduced the workforce down to just full-time staff.

    “That’s certainly helped quite a bit.” 

    Bos says when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the airport did have a rainy day fund it had built up.

    “We just weren’t expecting a rainy day to last 15 to 16 months,” he said.

    No government help for Sudbury

    Because of how the Greater Sudbury Airport is set up it was not able to apply for the same type of government subsidy that the Sault Airport was able to draw on. Tripp said their finances and reserve funds have depleted over the past 16 months, and they were not able to acquire any federal or provincial relief.

    “Sadly we don’t see anything coming from the government in the near future.” 

    The airport does have a borrowing agreement with the City of Greater Sudbury.

    Tripp compares the situation to relying on the city as it might a bank.

    The Greater Sudbury Airport does have other funding requests before the government, but nothing has materialized, he said.

    Over the past 16 months, Tripp said no employee was laid off from the airport, however vacant positions were not filled during that time.

    Tripp attributes the staff at the Greater Sudbury Airport for the reason they’re still around despite the halt to non-essential travel.

    “I think it’s their hard work and their solidarity behind us that have made us where we are today, in keeping this airport open,” he said.

    Tripp would like to see a federal recovery plan for all regional airports across the country. He says major airports have had some support, but it’s the smaller airports that now need help.

    “The federal government needs to step up and look at regional airports,” said Tripp.

    And as for when the aviation industry could see a full recovery, both Tripp and Bos believe that will come sooner than many had been predicting.

    “I think we’re going to see some growth happening faster than we thought and I think that will be very helpful for us, but we will soldier through this,” Tripp said.

    “I think we’re going to see a strong steady build over the next 18 to 24 months, and I think probably within three to five years we’ll be back to where we were pre-pandemic,” Bos said.

    With files from Jonathan Pinto

  • Sunwing announces convenient weekly flights from Sudbury and North Bay will resume this winter

    TORONTO, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sunwing is making it easier for residents of Northern Ontario to head to the tropics this winter. The tour operator has announced it will be offering vacation packages to some of the most popular tropical destinations from Greater Sudbury Airport and North Bay Jack Garland Airport. Flights will begin in December 2021 and run weekly until mid-April 2022.

    “We’re excited to be returning to Sudbury and North Bay this winter and offering Northern Ontarians seamless vacation experiences under our wing,” commented Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “Our seasonal flight services from Sudbury and North Bay have been consistently well-received over the years. With convenient flights from their regional airports, travellers will be able to spend less time getting to their destination and more time soaking up the sun in paradise.”

    The flight schedule from North Bay and Sudbury will be as follows:

    • Between North Bay and Cancun, Thursdays from December 16, 2021 until April 14, 2022
    • Between Sudbury and Varadero, Fridays from December 17, 2021 until April 15, 2022

    “Greater Sudbury Airport is looking forward to welcoming Sunwing back for another successful season,” said Todd Tripp, Chief Executive Officer at Greater Sudbury Airport. “After a difficult year of staying home and not travelling, we’re sure that residents of Sudbury and the surrounding area will be looking forward to enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation in paradise.”

    “After a strenuous year, we’re delighted that Sunwing will be returning to North Bay for their ninth season,” commented Jack Santerre, Airport Manager for North Bay Jack Garland Airport Corporation. “We’re pleased that our residents will be provided with convenient travel options from their regional gateway. With weekly flights to Cancun, it’ll now be easier than ever for travellers in North Bay and the surrounding area to head south this winter.”

    North Bay residents headed to Cancun with the whole family can stay at Grand Sunset Princess All Suites Resort and Spa, offering activities and amenities for all ages. Vacationers looking to take their budget even further can enjoy exclusive RIU®-topia amenities at Riu Dunamar like unlimited reservation-free dining. Travellers from Sudbury can soak up the sun on Cuba’s world-famous shores at Grand Memories Varadero and enjoy complimentary water sports like windsurfing and catamaran rides.

    Plus, customers who book their tropical getaway at select resorts by May 31, 2021 for travel between November 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022 will receive up to $1,000 per couple in value during the tour operator’s extended Freedom 21/22 Sale, including complimentary Price Drop Cash Back of up to $800 per couple at select resorts and the flexibility to change or cancel their plans with ease.

    About Sunwing

    The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the company’s own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.