New owner says they're working to re

New owner says they're working to re-certify Stephenville airport, looking to land new opportunities

More than 250 residents showed up at open house sessions

Local residents are reacting with cautious optimism as the new owners of Stephenville International Airport announced their intentions for the troubled operation at open house sessions that drew 250 people on Wednesday.

An entity linked to Calgary-based private equity firm BTG Capital acquired the airport earlier this year, after pushing the previous owner into a court-supervised receivership.

The top priority for the new owners is to re-certify the facility as an airport by Transport Canada, Andy Gibbons, representing the ownership group, told CBC News.

Gibbons said Stephenville International currently isn't certified by Transport Canada.

He said the owners are currently analyzing how much work will be required to re-certify the airport, adding some equipment may need repair or replacement thanks to years of neglect.

The airport was previously owned by Carl Dymond, through the Dymond Group of Companies.

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Last year, the airport was downgraded to a registered aerodrome before shutting down altogether after the power company cut off electricity.

The airport welcomed its first customer under new management this week, with the arrival of a helicopter.

Gibbons said the long-term goal is to explore different business initiatives, including scheduled passenger airline service.

"We are interested in defence, logistics and manufacturing. We love the proximity to the port here. We believe we can work very well with the energy industry."

Gibbons did not disclose if BTG was in contact with individual airlines, but said the company would be open to a deal that involved government funding, similar to that of WestJet flights connecting St. John’s to three European cities. Gibbons also previously served as WestJet’s vice-president of external affairs and director of government relations and regulatory affairs.

He said the company maintains a good relationship with the provincial government, and needs to convince airlines there is a business case that includes Stephenville.

Gibbons said all options are on the table to revitalize the airport and the company is looking for input from the community.

“Today was not about unveiling big plans. Today was about listening to the community, and the feedback was unbelievable,” Gibbons said.

Skip Deer Lake, make Stephenville the stop

Several residents at the open house spoke about the need for regional connections to cities like Halifax, Ottawa and Toronto.

Port au Port resident Paul Burton said he would like to see flights to Cape Breton and Ontario, and skipping Deer Lake in favour of Stephenville would be the ultimate goal.

“I'd like to see a passenger plane company come in here like WestJet or somebody like that and start up business. And we'd be able to fly back and forth to Ontario whenever we want,” Burton said.

The former Ontario resident said he would use the service regularly and would benefit from the ability to fly from Stephenville instead of Deer Lake.

Shana O'Quinn is the chief of the Port au Port Indian Band, who represent status and non-status Mi’kmaw people.

“Locally, we want to see better transportation. We are on an island … We are looking long-term sustainability. This is an opportunity for food sustainability, future businesses, economic growth,” O’Quinn said.

She said the new ownership group feels different from the previous, financially troubled ownership, largely thanks to the owners’ willingness to listen to feedback from all area residents and stakeholders.

The airport currently operates as a registered aerodrome, Transport Canada told CBC News via an emailed statement.

"The airport is currently voluntarily closed by the operator ... Transport Canada cannot disclose details of any discussions with the airport’s owners, but we can confirm that we communicate with all aviation operators," the statement reads.

CBC News reached out to Premier Tony Wakeham on the development, as he is also the area MHA, but he did not respond.

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Sanuda Ranawake works at the CBC bureau in Gander, N.L., and before that, at the CBC bureaus in Thompson, Man. and Corner Brook, N.L. He can be reached by email at sanuda.ranawake@cbc.ca