DEER LAKE AIRPORT OFFERING EXTENSIVE SUMMER SCHEDULE

This summer will be one of the busiest in the history of the Deer Lake Regional Airport. Recent announcements on new airline service and routes as well as expanded schedules and additional aircraft will increase the overall capacity on the summer schedule and provide many more choices for the traveling public.
Early in 2002, Air Canada Tango announced that it would be offering a discount jet service three days a week to Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and other connecting destinations throughout Air Canada’s system. This service will operate out of Deer Lake on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week from June 17 – September 6.

In recent weeks, Conquest Vacations announced it will be offering a twice weekly direct to Toronto summer schedule from Deer Lake. Flights will be operated by Skyservice and departures are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 25. The Airbus 320 aircraft to be used on this route has a capacity of 180 passengers.

In addition to these new summer programs, Provincial Airlines released their new and expanded schedule last week which includes a new daily routing from Deer Lake to Sydney and Halifax from Sunday – Friday of each week. This new service begins on June 3 and is expected to provide an attractive alternative service for travelers throughout Western Newfoundland. It will also be the only regularly scheduled direct air service link to Eastern Nova Scotia from Western Newfoundland.

Air Canada Jazz will also be continuing its regular service from its mini-hub in Deer Lake to destinations in the province and throughout Atlantic Canada. However, this service will also be enhanced this summer with the return of the BAE 146 jet service to and from Gander and Halifax.

“All of this adds up to a full summer schedule,” said Carl Stratton, Chairman of the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority. “This is the most extensive schedule we have had since the transfer of the Airport from Transport Canada in 1998. Obviously, there is strong demand in the local market area and we are confident these new and expanded services will be well supported,” added Stratton.

Jamie Schwartz, airport manager, said that travelers in the region will now have several choices to meet their specific needs. “We now have a combination of new airlines and new routes and this competition has already resulted in lower-cost affordable fares,” said Schwartz. “This will definitely stimulate tourist travel to the area and provide residents throughout Western Newfoundland with the opportunity to vacation outside the Province. We are anticipating one of the busiest summer seasons in the history of the airport,” added Schwartz. Over 40,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport facilities in June, July and August.

For Further Information Contact:
Jamie Schwartz, Airport Manager