There’s excitement brewing for a one-year pilot project which would offer flights to and from Muskoka Airport in Gravenhurst and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
The 35-minute trip will cost $140 one-way and it could be another option for telecommuters in Muskoka who need to attend meetings at their head office in the city, noted Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kelly Haywood.
She said transportation options to and from Gravenhurst from areas such as Huntsville and Lake of Bays is being explored, including the option of offering amenities such as a vehicle-rental satellite office in the airport area for visitors heading further north.
Haywood said it’s another option for those who want to avoid the mess that the 400-series highways can be.
Scheduled flights will run Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June until mid-October and fly up to eight passengers at a time. More capacity and other flight areas are being explored with other carriers as well.
Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison welcomed the initiative and said he may be trying out the service himself. In terms of the logistics of getting to and from the Muskoka Airport from Huntsville, he said he’d simply drive there, park and catch the air taxi. Aitchison referred to the pilot as a great economic initiative for the whole area.
The Mayor will be on-hand to welcome the inaugural FlyGTA flight from Billy Bishop, scheduled to arrive at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 15.
Councillor Bob Stone, Chair of Huntsville’s Economic Development Committee, said the initiative is exciting for Huntsville. He said how to transport those who arrive in Gravenhurst to this area is a bit of a stumbling block, but not an insurmountable one. He said in speaking with some in the hotel and resort sector, there are plans to make transportation part of the packages offered for those visiting the area.
“If tourists are landing in Gravenhurst, then the small piece is to get them all the way to Huntsville,” noted Stone.
Muskoka Tourism Chair Luke Nixon-Janssen, who is also Director of Sales and Revenue Management at Deerhurst Resort, said more transportation services to a region such as Muskoka will have a net benefit on the community at large.
“There is a ground transportation element required for communities like Huntsville but I believe that’s an easier barrier to overcome than people might think. As an industry, collaboration will be required among partners and local municipalities but I’m confident this will take shape,” he wrote in an email to Doppler. “I would also point out that what’s good for a part of the region in terms of welcoming more visitors and serving the immediate local community is good for the collective in the entire region.”
In a media release issued by the District last month, Bud Purves, Chair of the Board of Muskoka Airport, said, “The Board feels this is a great opportunity for commuters and travelers looking for more options and convenience for visiting or commuting to Muskoka. The Board looks forward to more opportunities like this developing as we undergo a strategic planning process this summer.”
Muskoka Airport is owned and operated by the District Municipality of Muskoka. It is forecasted to cost the Muskoka taxpayer $1,142,246 in 2018.
For more details on flights and FlyGTA, visit flygta.com.
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That might have been a sly reference to John Lennon’s book of poetry, from the 60’s.
Bring on the train…
You know what? All the Taxi companies bend over backwards to accommodate customers with limited mobility. I’m sure the planes will offer equivalent access.
I think you mean spanner, not “Spaniard.” =)
I hate to throw a “Spaniard in the Works”, but I didn’t hear the word “accessibility” anywhere in this article. I understand that the Town Council, at least, looks at all proposals through the lenses of accessibility and the environment. The latter wins out by virtue of taking more vehicles off our highways: the former is possibly fraught with problems.
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How accessible are the Muskoka Airport and Billy Bishop Airport? Accessible transportation is available to/from Billy Bishop; but not to/from Muskoka. Is the airplane itself accessible? Are all its interior amenities accessible? And please bear in mind that not all of our smaller tourist destinations are accessible.
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I love the idea, and with proper forethought, it is totally doable. I just wish to ensure that persons with ambulatory disabilities are considered initially; and not as an afterthought.
Time to spare go by air!
Hey!
I drive for Al’s Taxi. We are always ready to serve customers who want/need to come to Huntsville and Lake of Bays. Bring it on! If there is enough traffic, all the Taxi companies in Huntsville and Bracebridge will benefit.
Fantastic!! And a great opportunity for support industries to support the initiative. Come on car rental companies & Muskoka / Algonguin resorts get on board from the start. As the saying goes “you snooze, you lose”.
Great pilot project
Maybe the Corridor 11 Bus could dovetail with those flights and/or
Huntsville TAXIS and Car Rentals offer packages