THUNDER BAY – Ontario’s northern air hub, Thunder Bay is experiencing increased traffic. The Thunder Bay International Airports Authority report, “Passenger volumes for March 2015 set a new record for volumes in that month. In total, 66,603 passengers flew in and out of the airport in March, exceeding last year’s volumes by 2.7%.”
Ed Schmidtke, Interim President & CEO of the TBIAA expressed appreciation to the community volunteers who hosted the U16 Ontario Provincial Alpine Ski Championships and the 2015 Haywood Cross Country Ski National Championships for their work in securing these major events.
“Outbound traffic in always high during the March Break, but these two events increased inbound traffic by making Thunder Bay the destination of choice for ski competitors in 2015,” stated Schmidtke.
More than 100 alpine skiers and over 500 cross country skiers, along with their supporters, visited Thunder Bay – many for the first time.
TBIAA worked with local event organizers, airlines and security personnel to coordinate a seamless transportation experience for the competitors. “The level of communication and collaboration between all service providers and tournament organizers was exceptional, contributing to the extremely positive experience that these visitors to our City enjoyed,” Schmidtke stated.
TBIAA is the private, non-shareholder corporation responsible for the development and operation of the Thunder Bay International Airport. TBIAA receives no government funding for the operation of the Airport. Economic activity related to the Airport is responsible for over $.5 billion dollars in GDP annually and almost 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.
