Toronto-based carrier FlyGTA - formerly known as Greater Toronto Airways (Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre) - plans to build a new hangar and 'luxury' terminal at St. Catharines Niagara District Airport, reports St Catharine's Standard. The airline also announced the addition of routes from Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre to Kitchener/Waterloo and Lake Simcoe starting November 6, and to London, ON by year-end.
"The new flight routes announced today further connect Toronto to key markets which is great for our economy in terms of facilitating connections that fuel tourism and business," said Toronto's Economic Development Committee Chair, Michael Thompson.
Regarding the Niagara expansion, FlyGTA earlier this year signed a 50-year lease agreement with the airport commission, and will now build a 3,600sqm maintenance hangar and terminal. The carrier has also been approved by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) as a Canadian Air Taxi Operator (CATO).
Since launching commuter flights in September 2016, FlyGTA has doubled the number of services it offers between Toronto's City Centre airport and Niagara.
FlyGTA currently has a fleet of seven aircraft, comprising two Piper (twin piston) Senecas, three Chieftains, one Warrior, and one GippsAero GA8 Airvan. The airline's president and chief executive officer, Chris Nowrouzi, has said he plans to add to that number to support increased operations.
