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HomeNewsPeterborough Airport "takes off"

Peterborough Airport “takes off”

By Olivia Timm

PETERBOROUGH – The Peterborough Airport has seen substantial growth in recent years due to the acquisition of Seneca College, and Loomex Group’s CEO Trent Gervais says, “We believe in the airport and we believe in what this council is trying to do to create jobs in the region.”

Gervais said that Loomex is the “face of the airport,” and they take it very seriously.
He said the group does a lot in terms of spreading public knowledge and awareness of the airport throughout the community. “We know it is one of the jewels of the city and region, and we school tours, community presentations, public information strategies. We are constantly trying to encourage the public to come down and see the airport that they have invested in.”

The airport also hosts several community events that connect the community with the airport.

One of the biggest projects that the airport is working on currently is making sure they are prepared for airport capacity and the increase in aviation in Central Ontario. Gervais explained, “Pearson is reaching capacity, and we want to make sure that our doors are open for when that occurs, so we are working very hard on it.” “It is not just an economic driver for the community, it is a good community project to drive to Peterborough rather than Toronto to take a flight out, so that is constantly evolving and we will see more of that in future.”

Coun. Riel asked the big question: “When will the airport start to make money?”
“I cannot set a date on that at this point, but we are working towards revenue generation in other ways other than leases: we have landing fees that have been reviewed recently. At this point, there is 2.2 million in net expenses and $1.2 million of that expense is debt repayment for the major expansion. That debt payment is over 15 years, so 2025 is when that debt is repaid, so that will bring the amount down.”

Riel said, “Councils – this one and several other ones before – made a commitment to invest money in the airport…there has to be somewhere along the line that this airport starts to pay for itself.”

Coun. McWilliams agreed with Riel. “I think the airport is an exciting place for our community, and think other communities are envious of what we have at the airport, but it is about making it happen, and I hope Coun. Riel will get his wish.”

To further question the future of the airport, Coun. Pappas asked, “I know you said we are going after the Toronto airport to expand, but so is every other airport. What are we doing to stand out a little bit more?”

Gervais answered, “There are things that we cannot offer, and there are things that are an advantage for people to come here that other airports do not have…one of the two best things we have going for us is our land that we lease is cheaper than the GTA, we have uncontrolled airspace, we have lower taxes, we have a skilled workforce, we have partnerships with the university and the college…those are the sort of things we are marketing ourselves on.”

The Peterborough airport has had 60,000 movements. One movement is a take-off and landings.

Coun. McWilliams asked Gervais and Hewitt if this number is large in terms of aviation, and whether or not it would deter people from coming here.

Gervais said, “It is not a large number, if we deter anybody it might be the ‘weekend pilot’ that only goes up four or five months and might get a bit nervous about the traffic, but for the larger companies coming in that’s a very small number.”

Coun. Parnell asked when Do you know when that road is going to be open. Nancy: My understanding is the road is almost finished. It was being built over the winter. I do not have the exact date of when it will be opening, but it is expected this year.”

The proposed road will connect from Airport Road to Mervin Line East, and onto the connecting Airport Road. Nancy Hewitt is the Airport Administrator at the Peterborough Airport and has played numerous roles in aviation over the span of her career. She went into detail on that connection of Airport Road and the Industrial Park. “There are a few areas that will require contract adjustment in future due to the need for change in scope in order to maintain the general aviation area expansion, which will be constructed in phases starting this year. The County, transferring a portion of the area to the City, in exchange for the lands required to reconnect Airport Road and the Industrial Park to the east of Airport Road,” she explained. “The Loomex contract brought new equipment with experienced operators. The airport is maintained to a high standard – meeting or exceeding Transport Canada’s certifications standards. There is positive feedback from airport users and the aviation industry. Loomex staff are investors of the airport.”

Since Loomex became the contractor for the airport in 2012, annual meetings have been held to assess the performance, and have met or exceeded the City’s expectations, said Hewitt. She went on to say, “Aircraft movements have seen a significant increase growing from 15,600 in 2008 to 60,000 in 2016. The majority of the increase can be attributed to Seneca College aircraft movements.”

Hewitt also told Council that the airport has had an increase of 251 jobs and an increase of $25 million in gross domestic profit since 2008. “Today, with over 400 people employed at the airport, there is an estimated 673 jobs… and an estimated $66 million gross domestic profit.”

Hewitt told Council, “we will be returning to council to present the Strategic Development Plan later this year.”

 

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