Commercial flights between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay, Ont., are scheduled to start on July 6, according to Economic Development Officer Sumantra Ghosh.
North Star Air, based out of Thunder Bay, will be filling a void left by Bearskin Airlines, which ceased regular passenger flights from Fort Frances, Dryden and Kenora in 2024.
Kenora has already been working with North Star Air and has had flights running since mid-January. Fort Frances is now following suit to offer a quick route to and from Thunder Bay, convenient to anyone in the district; Dryden is also working out a contract with intentions of having the airline begin service in the future.
“This has been a significant community effort, and the support we have received from local businesses, organizations, residents, and regional partners has demonstrated just how important reliable air connectivity is to our community and surrounding region,” Ghosh told The Times.
“Access to scheduled air service is more than transportation. It is essential for economic growth, healthcare access, tourism, education, business development and keeping our communities connected. Your engagement, feedback, and willingness to stand behind this initiative have played an important role in moving these discussions forward.”
Ghosh said that although the town is confident in the airline, success in maintaining service between Fort Frances and Thunder Bay will depend heavily on how much it is being utilized.
“We’re very optimistic,” Ghosh said. “I think the success of the whole project depends on the demand. From our end, we would encourage everyone to use the service as much as possible, as frequently as possible, so we can work on things like fare stability and other routes down the line.”
Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas agreed that the operation depends heavily on demand from passengers, but that the airline was dedicated to working alongside the town to ensure no funds were wasted in doing so.
“We’ve had questionnaires out,” Hallikas said. “People say they want this, that they need it. So now it’s time to back up what they say with ridership.”
“We know it’s going to take a while for word to get out, but this is a first-rate airline. They’re going to work with us in partnership, and they’re agreeable to cancelling flights if no one is on them so we can save money, or if there’s a need, put out a bigger aircraft. I’m really excited about this.”
Currently, the fare for this new air service is priced at three different rates.
Starting at $450, a “Saver” ticket is required to be booked at least seven days in advance. The “Thrift” ticket, the next tier up, is priced at $550. It differs from the Saver option in that it requires booking only three days prior, instead of seven. Neither of these options is refundable after purchase, and there is an additional $50 fee for any changes or cancellations.
The final option is the “Flex” ticket, costing $799. This option can be booked anytime, has refundability options and can be changed or cancelled without an additional fee.
Hallikas said these prices are subject to lower depending on how many people are actually making use of the service. “If we get really, really good ridership, those rates can come down.”
“Those rates were premised on a certain minimum ridership. If we have more people in the aircraft, then we don’t need to charge as much to break even.”
A public open house and barbecue will allow for an opportunity to meet the North Star Air team, take tours of the Pilatus PC-12 plane and have a chance at winning free flights on June 18 between 11 a.m and 2 p.m. at the Fort Frances Airport, 1300 Frog Creek Rd.
