There won’t be any Air Canada flights to and from North Bay and Toronto this summer.

The suspension of the flights has now been extended to September 7th.

Air Canada posted the information on it’s website.

Flights were originally put on hold on March 23rd.

City Councillor Chris Mayne says this is disappointing for the airport as they were hoping for atleast one flight a day at some point in the summer to offset revenue issues.

He says there have been layoffs at the airport already.

“The North Bay Jack Garland Airport Board have their own staff that manage and run the operation of the airport and two of those positions have been reduced,” Mayne says.

He says that leaves 10 airport employees but doesn’t include other air activity including Nav Canada, Canadore College and Gateway Helicopters.

Mayne says the extension by Air Canada doesn’t impact whether or not the airport will stay open.

“The city has guaranteed as much as $200,000 per month to the airport management if required to keep the airport open,” Mayne says.

Mayne says the airport is being used through medivac flights, the MNR, charter flights and cargo operations but the airports viability depends on commercial passenger traffic.

For more information check out the Air Canada Website

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/china-travel.html#/na-4

 

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: Air Canada, City of North Bay, COVID-19, Jack Garland Airport