GANDER, NL – The first commercial airline flight between Gander and Fogo Island is set for April 23.
Put in place by EVAS Air, the service will see two flights per day, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – departing Gander at 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., with return flights to take place shortly thereafter.
Flying time for the 18-seat Twin Otter aircraft is approximately 20 minutes.
Patrick White, EVAS Air president and CEO, has been working on this project for some time.
White said the company isn’t going into competition with the island’s ferry service – currently the only means of transportation to and from the isolated area – the air service is being put in place as, “an alternate means of transportation.”
The cost of a one-way flight is $125, and there are plans to operate a courier service to serve the business community.
While Fogo Island mayor Wayne Collins said the flights might be a little expensive for residents, he pointed out it’s a transportation option that wasn’t available previously.
With ferry issues occurring because of numerous mechanical problems in the past, Collins said it can take up to 24 hours for the province to implement fixed wing services for alternative transportation.
“An alternate service still allows residents of the island to make medical appointments and other commitments such as commuting for work,” he said. “It’s a huge advantage from that perspective.”
