Thunder Bay International Airport
Encyclopedia
Thunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, , is an airport
in the Canadian
city of Thunder Bay
, Ontario
. With 80,591 aircraft movements in 2010 it was the 7th busiest airport in Ontario and the 24th busiest airport in Canada. In 2009, 606,275 passengers went through the airport making it the 3rd busiest in Ontario and the 16th busiest in Canada.
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.
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.
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.
Before the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur merged, it was called the Canadian Lakehead Airport.
bus route #3 Airport serves the airport terminal and nearby Aviation Centre of Excellence
.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
city of Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. With 80,591 aircraft movements in 2010 it was the 7th busiest airport in Ontario and the 24th busiest airport in Canada. In 2009, 606,275 passengers went through the airport making it the 3rd busiest in Ontario and the 16th busiest in Canada.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
Airport of Entry
An airport of entry is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors arriving in a country.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
by NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
. 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. The airport went under major renovations in 1994 with the construction of a new airport terminalAirport terminal
An airport terminal is a building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the facilities that allow them to board and disembark from aircraft....
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.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Thunder Bay (then Fort William) airport was home to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School, part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
. The airport was also used as a base for test flights of fighter aircraft being built at the nearby Canadian Car and Foundry
Canadian Car and Foundry
Canadian Car and Foundry also variously known as "Canadian Car & Foundry," or more familiarly as "Can Car," manufactured buses, railroad rolling stock and later aircraft for the Canadian market...
factory.
Before the two cities of Fort William and Port Arthur merged, it was called the Canadian Lakehead Airport.
Scheduled
Charter
Tenants
- CHC HelicopterCHC HelicopterCHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
for OrngeOrngeOrnge is the air ambulance service for the province of Ontario and for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care...
(Ontario Air Ambulance) - Thunder AirlinesThunder AirlinesThunder Airlines is a Canadian scheduled flight, charter and Medevac airline based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They offer on-demand charter service from bases in Thunder Bay and Timmins.-Fleet:As of June 2009 the company operated:*4 King Air A100...
for Ornge - Confederation CollegeConfederation CollegeConfederation College is a provincially funded college of applied arts and technology located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1967, and has area campuses in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa. The college, with its area...
Aviation - Aviation Centre of ExcellenceAviation Centre of ExcellenceThe Aviation Centre of Excellence, or ACE, is the aviation department facility for Confederation College. The state-of-the-art building comprises two large hangars, classrooms, shops, labs, and offices for the three aviation programs at the School of Aviation.Confederation College, which opened...
Parking & transportation
The parking lot contains 100 short-term spaces, 300 long-term spaces, curbside taxi service and courtesy cars. Thunder Bay TransitThunder Bay Transit
Thunder Bay Transit is the public transit operator in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. It was formed in 1970, after the amalgamation of the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William and their respective transit agencies...
bus route #3 Airport serves the airport terminal and nearby Aviation Centre of Excellence
Aviation Centre of Excellence
The Aviation Centre of Excellence, or ACE, is the aviation department facility for Confederation College. The state-of-the-art building comprises two large hangars, classrooms, shops, labs, and offices for the three aviation programs at the School of Aviation.Confederation College, which opened...
.