News - Stephenville International Airport

As the last days of 2008 were coming to an end on Monday, Stephenville airport experienced some gains with extra traffic.

A large Antonov 124 cargo plane, a Canadian military Hercules airplane and a United States Air Force G-4 were all seen at the airport at one time.

Danny McCann, acting chairman of the Stephenville Airport Corporation, welcomed the extra business towards the end of the year and said refueling these large aircraft helps the airport’s bottom line.

He said the Antonov was re-directed to Stephenville when inclement weather was being experienced in Gander.

Meanwhile, McCann said some other positive news for the airport is that Flair Air will be having its first scheduled flight on Jan. 5 into Stephenville from the Albian Sands project in Alberta.

It’s expected the 727-400 charter aircraft will be dropping off 30 to 60 passengers per stop at Stephenville, then fly to St. John’s and return to Stephenville, picking up more employees on its way back to the project, McCann said.

“I’m hoping that other companies in Alberta who do their own charters may look at this and decide to use Stephenville airport as well,” he said. “This initiative was started by the workers from the southwest coast, who petitioned their company to use Stephenville as the airport of choice and once the company contacted us, we (Stephenville Airport Corporation) helped make it happen.”

He said talks are as also ongoing with an airline in the hope of securing a carrier which will operate a Halifax connection out of the airport. McCann said the corporation would soon meet with the airline to look at the proposal they are putting forward.

McCann said talks with KAZ Aviation, the private company looking at operating Stephenville airport, continue and it decided in the new year if an agreement can be reached, but the corporation is proceeding cautiously.