Media Release – Flight Service Between Downtown Toronto and Wiarton Keppel International Airport
April 2nd, 2019 MEDIA RELEASE
FLIGHT SERVICE BETWEEN
DOWNTOWN TORONTO AND WIARTON KEPPEL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
FLYGTA and the Township of Georgian Bluffs are pleased to announce scheduled air service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to the Wiarton Keppel International Airport (Grey Bruce Region including the Bruce Peninsula & Tobermory). The 2019 flight service will commence on May 24th, with a guarantee to continue to October 28th, and possibly through the winter season.
Highlight:
- Flights on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, and will have an approximate air time of 40 minutes.
- Approvals from both municipalities have been confirmed and the new service will be May 24th
- Flights are available for booking to the public starting Tuesday April 2nd, 2019 through flygta.com.
- FLYGTA’s departures have no wait times, and are served from private flight lounges. True Air Taxi solutions are now available.
“FLYGTA’s vision and mandate is to support the concept of the Southern Ontario Airport Network. We pride ourselves as leaders in connectivity, and create options for the future needs of air traffic in our province. The start of this service is another step toward this ideology and will enhance tourism opportunities between our regions. Through the next several weeks, we will announce and execute several initiatives which will advance the next generation of tourism and travel in Ontario. Get ready for change!”
———- Chris Nowrouzi, CEO, FLYGTA Airlines
“The Township of Georgian Bluffs is excited about having FLYGTA provide regularly scheduled flights between Wiarton and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. This opens up huge opportunities for business, leisure and tourism for the Grey Bruce Region. This 40 minute flight allows Grey Bruce Region to be connected to the world and its opportunities while allowing businesses and residents the opportunity to live and operate in the most beautiful, safe and cleanest region Ontario offers.”
——— Mayor Dwight Burley, Township of Georgian Bluffs
“The Town of Saugeen Shores is the fastest growing community in the region and ranked as one of the best places to live in Canada. Our business community knows what it means to be innovative and knows how to move with market changes and customer expectations. Direct flights between Wiarton and Toronto opens a door for the tourism industry in the region, and provides easier access to the GTA for our business community. The scheduled flights will give local businesses access to training opportunities available in the GTA, will encourage our companies to tap into new markets and to remain current in the ever changing economy. Congratulations to Georgian Bluffs on this exciting initiative!”
———— Mayor Luke Charbonneau, Town of Saugeen Shores
“Regularly scheduled flights from the Wiarton International Airport is going to be a huge boost to our regional economy as residents, businesses and visitors can now travel directly to and from downtown Toronto.
The bonus is they will have an outstanding sightseeing tour of what makes the Grey Bruce Region a great place to live and visit.”
———— Steve Furness, Senior Economic Development Officer, Grey County
About FLYGTA:
FLYGTA is a Canadian Air Operator serving the interests of Southern Ontario. The airline operates from it’s HQ at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, with departures from the Stolport private flight lounge and convenient access to downtown Toronto. Using it’s fleet of 8 passenger twin engined aircraft, FLYGTA serves several routes in Southern Ontario including flights between Toronto and Niagara District Airport, Region of Waterloo International Airport, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport, Muskoka Airport, and now Wiarton-Keppel International Airport. FLYGTA is also the leading provider of Air Tours & Flight Excursions in Toronto, and provides air charter services with it’s turbo-prop and private jets with short and long range abilities.
About Wiarton-Keppel International Airport:
The Wiarton Keppel International Airport is the only airport certified by Transport Canada in the Grey Bruce region. The airport is owned exclusively by the Township of Georgian Bluffs who has invested in the facility to ensure that it becomes the region’s aviation hub offering exceptional service to leisure, corporate, business and recreational travellers as well as offers enhanced economic prosperity.
Please review the Media Room at www.flygta.com for the official press release and stock photos.
FLYGTA Communications contact:
Chris Nowrouzi, CEO
+1-888-470-4595
Township of Georgian Bluffs communications contact:
Mayor Dwight Burley
+1-519-270-7693
- Published in Announcement
Airport Partnership Feasibility Meeting
Wiarton Keppel International Airport hosted an Airport Partnership Feasibility meeting which was organized by RTO7 (Regional Tourism Organization 7) – an organization that provides strategic and collaborative leadership to build, sustain and grow tourism in Bruce, Grey and Simcoe. Grey County officials, local businesses and tourism operators participated in the meeting which took place on October 18, 2019.
Click here to read through the presentation slides to learn more.
- Published in Announcement
Air Service Survey Final Report is Now Available
The information collected from over 2,300 surveys has now been analyzed by Georgian College and the Final Report on the Wiarton Keppel Airport is now available.
- Published in Announcement
Wiarton Airport Survey Demonstrates Interest in Regular Flights to Toronto Region and Beyond
During the month of March, an on-line and interview survey was carried out by Georgian College. The purpose of the survey was to assess the degree of interest from Grey Bruce residents in having regularly scheduled flight service to Toronto and other main destinations in Canada and the U.S.A from the Wiarton Keppel International Airport. Not surprisingly a significant number of respondents (77%) travel to Toronto for business at least once per year and 28% travel 7 or more times per year. Nearly all respondents travel to Toronto for leisure with 30% visiting 7 or more times. The majority of respondents (57% plus) also indicated that they would be “extremely or very likely” to fly from from Wiarton Airport) to Toronto if the service was offered.
The results will now be analysed in further detail by the consulting group Think Canada which is developing an investment and attraction strategy for the Wiarton International Airport. Developing that strategy will involve using the results to build a business case and carry out consultations with different airline companies. The feasibility of regularly scheduled flights will depend on the business case and feasibility, and how that aligns with expansion strategies of regional airline . Georgian Bluffs remains committed to developing the Wiarton International Airport as a regional economic driver that serves both businesses, residents and tourists.
Over 2300 surveys were completed by regional residents. The overwhelming response demonstrates in itself the level of interest in seeing this service provided to the region. The Municipality of Georgian Bluffs would like to thank all those who participated in the survey and the organizers of the Wiarton Willie Festival and Cobble Beach for hosting the interviewers, as well as thanking Georgian College undertaking the research report.
- Published in Announcement
And the Winner is…
We recently conducted a survey to gauge the interest and support of a regular service flight from Wiarton Keppel International Airport to Toronto Island Airport. We received an overwhelming response so thank you to everyone who participated! The survey grand prize — a 50-minute Sightseeing Tour from Wiarton Aviation — was awarded to Tracey Dufton, pictured here with Mayor of the Township of Georgian Bluffs, Alan Barfoot, and Airport Manager, Gaurav Sharma. Congratulations Tracey, enjoy the views!
- Published in Announcement
Would You Fly From Wiarton to Toronto?
Would You #Fly from #Wiarton to #Toronto? Fill out this quick 10-question survey and you will be entered for a chance to #WIN a #FREE 50-minute Sightseeing Tour from Wiarton Aviation at the Wiarton Keppel International Airport! #brucepeninsula #greycounty #georgianbluffs
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPVDRLL
The Township of Georgian Bluffs, with support from Grey County, is undertaking a survey to determine the feasibility of scheduled passenger service between the Wiarton Keppel International Airport and Toronto.
The survey will run throughout February and is available online at www.georgianbluffs.ca and www.grey.ca. It only takes a few minutes to complete and everyone who enters has the chance to win a 50-minute sightseeing tour from Wiarton Aviation Services.
“Having scheduled flights would allow residents and businesses to reach the GTA in as little as 30 minutes. That service would make our region more accessible for travelers and help grow prosperity in the region, both socially and economically,” said Alan Barfoot, Mayor of Georgian Bluffs.
In addition to the online survey, Georgian College marketing students will be at various community events throughout the month collecting information and completing survey. All results of this survey will be analyzed and presented to interested carriers.
For media inquiries contact Rob Hatten, Communication Manager at rob.hatten@grey.ca or call 519-372-0219 ext.1235.
- Published in Announcement, Uncategorized
New Online Presence for the Wiarton Keppel International Airport
The Wiarton Keppel International Airport is now online! We recently launched our new website and Facebook page — keep in touch by visiting www.facebook.com/WiartonKeppelInternationalAirport and Like our page.
- Published in Announcement, Uncategorized