![Checking in at North Star Air in Thunder Bay at the International Airport](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NSA-Counter-at-TBIA.jpg)
THUNDER BAY – BUSINESS – The past year saw Thunder Bay Airport (YQT) volumes hit an all-time high by exceeding 800,000 passengers for the first time. In 2016, YQT hosted 807,041 passengers in total.
Thunder Bay International Airports Authority (TBIAA) will also start 2017 with record seat capacity offering very competitive pricing and connectivity.
“The new year begins with unprecedented seat capacity in the Thunder Bay market,” according to the Airport Authority’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Ed Schmidtke. “This competition provides travelers with more service and price options.”
![Porter Airlines flies out of Thunder Bay International Airport](https://www.netnewsledger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Porter-Air-at-YQT-International-Airport.jpg)
The Airport Authority also hopes to benefit from a growing trend of US residents choosing Thunder Bay as a gateway. Thunder Bay pricing to European destinations compares very favourably with US airports in Duluth and Minneapolis, often offering a saving of $400USD to $500 USD per person. Similar savings are also available on the winter charters destined to Cancun, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. “Our research has found several weeks this winter where an all-inclusive price to the same resort was $500USD per person less expensive from Thunder Bay than from Minneapolis,” according to Schmidtke.