Thunder Bay International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Thunder Bay International Airport
nativename = Thunder Bay Airport
IATA = YQT
ICAO = CYQT
type = Public
owner = Transport Canada [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/Airports/Status/menu.htm Airport Divestiture Status Report] ]
operator = Thunder Bay International Airports Authority
city-served = Thunder Bay, Ontario
elevation-f = 653
elevation-m = 199
coordinates = Coord|48|22|19|N|089|19|26|W|type:airport|display=inline
website = [http://www.tbairport.on.ca tbairport.on.ca]
r1-number = 07/25
r1-length-f = 6,200
r1-length-m = 1,890
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 12/30
r2-length-f = 5,300
r2-length-m = 1,615
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2007/2006
stat1-header = Aircraft Movements
stat1-data = 95,919 (2007)
stat2-header = Passengers
stat2-data = 610,476 (2006)
footnotes = Sources: Canada Flight SupplementCFS]
Statistics from Transport Canada. [http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/EN/Report/TP577/pdf/TP577_07.pdf - Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report 2007] ]
Passengers from Annual Report 2006

Thunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, Airport codes|YQT|CYQT, is an airport in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. With 95,919 aircraft movements in 2007 it is the sixth busiest airport in Ontario. In 2006 the airport recorded 100,154 aircraft movements and was the 15th busiest airport in Canada. In 2007 there was a 4.4% decrease to 95,919 making it the 21st busiest.

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle aircraft with no more than 40 passengers.

History

Originally named the Fort William Municipal Airport, construction began in 1938, partly as a means of relieving unemployment.* Tronrud, Thorold J; Epp, Ernest A.; and others. (1995). " [http://www.thunderbaymuseum.com/publications.htm Thunder Bay: From Rivalry to Unity] ". Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, pp96. ISBN 0-920119-22-0.] The airport went under major renovations in 1994 with the construction of a new airport terminal building, including two jetways, a large food court, a gift shop and an arcade.

The airport was handed over from the government in 1997 to the Thunder Bay International Airports Authority, a non-profit organization. The airport handled over 600,000 passengers in 2006 for the first time since 2001. [http://www.tbairport.on.ca/Links/Annual_Report_2006_Final.pdf Thunder Bay International Airport - Annual Report 2006, p.7] ]

During World War II, the Thunder Bay (then Fort William) airport was home to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The airport was also used as a base for test flights of fighter aircraft being built at the nearby Canadian Car and Foundry factory.

Airlines and destinations

*Air Canada
**Air Canada Jazz (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto-Pearson, Winnipeg)
*Air Creebec (Charter, Timmins)
*Bearskin Airlines (Dryden, Fort Frances, Sault Ste. Marie, Sioux Lookout, Sudbury)
*CanJet (Fort McMurray)
*NAC Air
* Northwest Airlines
** Northwest Airlink operated by Mesaba Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
*Skyservice (Cancún) [seasonal]
*Thunder Airlines (Charter)
*Wasaya Airways (Sioux Lookout)
*WestJet (Toronto-Pearson, Winnipeg)

Tenants

* CHC Helicopter for Ontario Air Ambulance
* Thunder Airlines for Ontario Air Ambulance
* Confederation College Aviation - Aviation Centre of Excellence

Parking & Transportation

The parking lot contains 100 short-term spaces, 300 long-term spaces, curbside taxi service and courtesy cars.

Thunder Bay Transit bus #3 goes to the airport.

See also

* Thunder Bay Water Aerodrome

References

External links

* [http://www.tbairport.on.ca Thunder Bay Flight Information]