News - Stephenville International Airport

Jeffrey Short says there’s too much politics at play in dealing with issues surrounding the Stephenville airport.

The Stephenville resident has written town council to share some views on Stephenville airport, including his belief that KAZ Aviation should be operating the airport.

He believes as a citizen who moved to Stephenville a little more than four years ago from St. Anthony, he is able to resist getting caught up in the emotion, history and the politics surrounding Stephenville airport.

Short says he follows the airport issue closely, remembers campaign talk and promises about the airport, attended public meetings regarding the airport, and through conversation with citizens has formed his own opinion about this situation.

“It’s very frustrating when you see articles about the things getting done at the Deer Lake Regional Airport and the things Stephenville International Airport is planning to do,” he said, in a prepared letter. “Deer Lake Airport has a politics-free work environment and a get-it-done attitude. Once the runway extension is completed, it is going to be next to impossible to get our airport back to where we need it to be.”

In Stephenville, Short says people continuously drag their heels with political issues and mess around with a prospective client who wishes to operate our airport and create employment.

To him, the airport corporation wants to make progress while the town wants to stall it. “Politics and personal agendas seem to be playing a part in delaying this opportunity,” he said. “The business plan is a political stalling tactic waiting for the airport to close.”

The Town of Stephenville is too involved in this situation, he said, as council wants to manage the airport, make decisions around the airport operations and select the airport board of directors.

Short feels KAZ Aviation is a good fit for Stephenville airport, as an established business that has the financial backing to make things work.

KAZ Aviation has publicly said Stephenville Airport is a “diamond in the rough.”

“KAZ has the expertise and have proven they know this business,” Short said. “They want to come to our town and take the airport to the heights that everyone knows it could go to. They will bring stability, which is what other airlines need to see in order to make our connection to the mainland happen, which we have been talking about once again for the past number of years.”

Private investment is needed right now in order for the airport to survive, Short said.

“Let’s make a decision that will have a positive effect on our future,” he said. “Let’s make the Stephenville Airport what it was and what we all know it can be. Let’s make KAZ Aviation a part of our town,” he said.

O’Brien said Short certainly covered all the angles as he sees them; however, there are some facts about the airport he doesn’t have in his letter.

“The Town of Stephenville is certainly not stalling when it comes to KAZ Aviation,” the mayor said. “As a community we want to find a resolution to this problem as soon as possible with the ultimate goal of the continued operation and growth of the Stephenville airport,” he said.

O’Brien said as one can appreciate the negotiations are between the parties involved, and the town can’t get into a situation where the negotiations are being done through the media.