The Aviation Landscape Of New Brunswick: Exploring Airport Accessibility

The Province of New Brunswick is easily accessible by air, water, and land. There are six airports in the province that offer scheduled flights, with the largest being the Greater Moncton International Airport. The Fredericton International Airport and Saint John Airport are also major airports in the region, with the former earning its international status in 2007. In addition to these, there are several regional airports in New Brunswick, including the Charlo Airport, the Miramichi Airport, and the Bathurst Airport.

The three international airports in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has 64 airports, including several regional airports and three international airports that serve as the primary entry points for commercial air travel. Here is some information about each of the three international airports:

Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport:

Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport, located 8 km east of Moncton's town centre, is the largest airport in New Brunswick. It offers daily flights to Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto and connects to several US and Central American destinations during the summer season. Bus connections are available from the airport to Moncton and other cities in the region.

Fredericton International Airport:

Fredericton International Airport, located about 13 km southeast of Fredericton, is the second busiest airport in New Brunswick. Most scheduled flights from this airport are domestic, but it also offers seasonal flights to international destinations. Airlines serving this airport include Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing Airlines, Porter Airlines Ottawa, and WestJet Encore. The airport is accessible by bus from Fredericton, and bus connections are available to Moncton, Saint John, and Edmundston.

Saint John Airport:

Saint John Airport, located 16 km east of Saint John's town centre, is the third busiest airport in the province. It offers direct flights to Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa and seasonal flights to Varadero, Cuba. Airlines operating from this airport include Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, and Sunwing Airlines.

Moncton Airport

The airport covers 760 hectares (1,878 acres) of land and is designated as an international airport by Transport Canada, staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers can handle aircraft with up to 300 passengers, although larger planes like the Boeing 747 have been accommodated. Moncton Airport is home to Canada's largest aviation training centre, the Moncton Flight College, and has seen significant growth in passenger numbers over the years.

The airport provides bus connections to Moncton and other cities in the region, and several hotels nearby offer free airport shuttle services. Car rental services are available within the airport, and taxis are readily available outside the terminal. Moncton Airport also features various amenities, including an ATM, a Relay outlet, a destination lounge, and a St. Thomas Seafood outlet offering lobster and seafood.

The airport has a rich history, with the first scheduled flight from the Greater Moncton area taking place in 1928, carrying mail and passengers to the Magdalen Islands. The airport has undergone numerous expansions and renovations, including the addition of an international arrivals area and a new state-of-the-art terminal in 2001, which was officially opened in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Fredericton International Airport

The airport is classified as an international airport by Transport Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at the airport can handle aircraft with no more than 55 passengers or 140 if offloaded in stages. Fredericton International Airport earned its international status in 2007, and one of its two runways is the longest in New Brunswick. The airport is owned by Transport Canada and operated by the Greater Fredericton Airport Authority.

The airport has seen significant growth in recent years, with a 25% increase in traffic in 2023 and a positive outlook for 2024. In 2016, the airport handled 377,977 passengers, and in 2009, the number of aircraft movements rose by 44.8% to 106,178, making it the 19th busiest airport in Canada. The airport has a variety of airlines operating scheduled flights, including Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing Airlines, Porter Airlines, and WestJet Encore.

The airport features a concession kiosk, a restaurant, and a gift shop operated by the Chef Group. It also offers free Wi-Fi for passengers. Fredericton International Airport is accessible by bus from Fredericton, and there are bus connections to Moncton, Saint John, and Edmundston.

Saint John Airport

The airport is owned by Transport Canada and has been operated by the private non-profit corporation Saint John Airport Inc. since 1999. It is part of the National Airports System and is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada. CBSA officers at this airport can handle aircraft with no more than 120 passengers.

Regional airports in New Brunswick

The Canadian province of New Brunswick has six airports with scheduled flights. The province is easily accessible by air, water, and land. The three international airports in the province are:

• Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (also known as Moncton Airport)
• Fredericton International Airport
• Saint John Airport

The other three airports in the province are:

• Bathurst Airport (also known as Regional Bathurst Airport)
• Charlo Airport
• Miramichi Airport

The Moncton Airport is the largest airport in New Brunswick, located 8 km east of the town centre of Moncton. Fredericton International Airport is the second busiest airport in the province, located about 13 km southeast of Fredericton. The Saint John Airport is the third busiest airport in the province, located 16 km east of Saint John's town centre.

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