Toronto To New Brunswick: Airport Options

There are several airports in New Brunswick that offer flights to Toronto, including the province's primary airport, the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport. Fredericton International Airport and Saint John Airport, the second and third busiest airports in the province, also offer flights to Toronto.

Moncton's Greater Roméo LeBlanc International Airport

The airport is named after former Governor General Roméo LeBlanc and was previously called the Greater Moncton International Airport. It covers a total land area of 760 hectares (1,878 acres) and is designated as an international airport by Transport Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) staffs the airport, and its officers can handle aircraft with up to 300 passengers.

The airport is home to the Moncton Flight College, the largest flight college in Canada. It offers daily flights to Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto and has connections to several US and Central American destinations during the summer. The airport features a modern terminal building that evokes a sense of place with wood and water elements, reflecting the region's natural attractions. The terminal has a capacity of up to one million passengers per year and provides quick check-in and bag check services.

In terms of transportation to and from the airport, while Moncton's Codiac Transit city buses do not serve it directly, the inter-city Acadian Bus Lines will make stops there with prior notice. Additionally, some hotels in the area, such as the Holiday Inn Express Airport Dieppe and Ramada Plaza Crystal Hotel, provide free airport shuttle services for their guests. For those who prefer taxis, the airport has direct phone lines to Air Cab and White Cab Company, and their vehicles are readily available outside the terminal. Car rental services from companies like Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National are also conveniently located within the airport's main level.

Fredericton International Airport

The airport has two runways, one of which is the longest in New Brunswick. It is owned by Transport Canada and operated by the Greater Fredericton Airport Authority. Fredericton International Airport is also part of the National Airports System.

The airport has seen significant growth in recent years, with a 115% increase in aircraft movements between 2008 and 2009. In 2016, the airport handled 377,977 passengers. To accommodate this growth, the airport underwent a $30 million expansion project in 2018 to increase terminal size by 50%, improve energy efficiency, and add more ticket counters, washrooms, and seating. The expansion was completed in 2021.

Airlines operating at Fredericton International Airport include Air Canada Express, offering year-round direct flights to Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, and Montreal. Seasonal flights are also available to international destinations such as Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Varadero in Cuba. Other airlines serving the airport include Air Transat, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet, and Porter Airlines.

The airport is accessible by taxi, with Checker Cab serving as the primary taxi provider. Car rental services are provided by Hertz, Budget, Avis, and National. Fredericton International Airport also has its own fire suppression capabilities, with two ARFF and tanker units to handle aircraft-related emergency calls. Mutual assistance is provided by nearby communities, including Fredericton, Oromocto, and CFB Gagetown.

Saint John Airport

The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can currently handle aircraft with no more than 120 passengers.

The airport offers direct flights to Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, as well as seasonal flights to Varadero, Cuba, and Orlando. Airlines operating at the airport include Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, and Sunwing Airlines.

Bathurst Airport

The NNBAA is working to improve infrastructure and expand air services to consolidate the airport as a vital link for the region. Future developments include an expansion of the existing terminal building and an extension of the runway. The terminal building expansion will double the size of the current structure, allowing for the comfortable and efficient processing of passengers and baggage while modernizing the airport and adapting it to future changes in the aviation industry. The runway extension project will lengthen the runway by 900 ft, enabling unrestricted use of the current Dash-8 aircraft and accommodating larger aircraft like the Q-400.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport was self-sustaining and served around 40,000 to 50,000 passengers per year. However, due to the pandemic's financial impact, Air Canada, the only airline operating scheduled passenger flights, indefinitely suspended all operations at Bathurst Airport in June 2020. Thrice-weekly service to Montreal resumed on June 1, 2021, but the decreased service resulted in the airport operating at a deficit.

The airport is considered essential for health-care services, as it facilitates the transport of specialists and doctors to the area. Without the airport, medical professionals would need to fly into larger airports like Moncton and then drive to Bathurst, reducing the time they can spend with patients.

Miramichi Airport

The airport offers various services, including hotels and car rentals. There are several business-friendly hotels in the area, such as the Rodd Miramichi and Travelodge by Wyndham Miramichi New Brunswick, which provide free breakfast, parking, and WiFi. The Econo Lodge Miramichi is another option, offering similar amenities and earning praise from guests for its helpful staff.

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