Kingston, Ontario: Airport Or Not?

Kingston, Ontario is served by the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport, also known as Kingston Airport or YGK Airport. The airport is located 8 km west of downtown Kingston and is the largest airport in the region. In 2019, it was reported that 70,000 people travelled through the airport each year. The airport was originally built as a military airbase and training school, and it has since expanded and undergone renovations. While passenger flights have been grounded since December 2022, the airport remains busy with daily freight flights, military operations, and private corporate flights. There are ongoing efforts to bring back passenger services and potentially introduce international flights.

Kingston Norman Rogers Airport

Kingston, Ontario is served by the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport, also known as the Kingston Airport or YGK Airport. It is located 4.3 nautical miles (8 km or 4.9 miles) west of downtown Kingston, in the west end of the city. The airport is named after former MP Norman McLeod Rogers, who was the Minister of Labour and then National Defence in Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King's cabinet from 1935 to 1940.

The airport was originally built as a military airbase and training school known as RCAF Station Kingston by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was constructed during World War II to serve as a training station for the Royal Air Force's No. 31 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), providing advanced flight training in Battle and Harvard aircraft. In 1942, the school became part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), and in 1944, the BCATP's No. 14 Service Flying Training School merged with the RAF school at the Kingston site. After the war, the airport was leased to the City of Kingston by the Department of Transport, and the city purchased it outright in 1974.

In recent years, the airport has faced challenges in restoring passenger services and adapting to the post-pandemic landscape. In 2022, the City of Kingston received federal funding of $2.8 million through the Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI) to enhance safety protocols and formulate strategic plans. The airport currently handles approximately 80% of the flights it did pre-pandemic, including daily medical transfer flights, cargo flights, military operations, and private corporate flights. There are ongoing discussions with multiple airlines to restore passenger services and potentially introduce international flights in the future.

YGK Airport

Kingston Norman Rogers Airport, also known as YGK Airport (IATA: YGK, ICAO: CYGK) or simply Kingston Airport, is the main airport serving Kingston, Ontario, and its metropolitan area. The airport is located 4.3 nautical miles (8.0 km; 4.9 mi) west of downtown Kingston, in the west end of the city. It is the largest airport in the region, with 70,000 travellers passing through each year as of 2019.

In recent years, YGK Airport has faced challenges in restoring passenger services and adapting to the post-pandemic landscape. The pause in Pascan Aviation's air service in January 2023 left the airport without a regular passenger airline. However, the airport's manager, Aron Winterstein, has been in talks with multiple airlines to bring back passenger flights, with the possibility of international flights in the future. The airport currently handles approximately 80% of its pre-pandemic operations, including daily medical transfer and cargo flights, military operations, and private corporate flights.

Kingston Airfield

Kingston, Ontario, is served by the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport, also known as Kingston Airport or YGK Airport. It is located 8 km west of downtown Kingston and is the largest airport in the region. The airport was formerly a military airbase and training school known as RCAF Station Kingston, built by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Before 1940, the city was served by the Kingston Airfield, a grass strip just north of downtown Kingston. This airfield closed in 1942, and in the same year, the current airport site became part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The BCATP's No. 14 Service Flying Training School merged with the RAF school already operating at the site. After World War II, the Department of Transport assumed ownership of the site and leased it to the City of Kingston, which purchased it outright in 1974.

The airport originally had six runways, three of which are parallel and have been extended to handle larger aircraft. It is classified as an Airport of Entry by Nav Canada and is partnered with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. In 2019, it was reported that 70,000 people travelled through the airport each year. In addition to commercial flights, the airport accommodates daily medical transfer flights, cargo flights, military operations, and private corporate flights.

In December 2022, passenger flights from the airport were paused, and as of March 2023, the airport manager, Aron Winterstein, stated that they were in active conversation with multiple airlines to restore passenger services, including the possibility of international flights. The City of Kingston received federal funding of $1.3 million in 2022 to enhance safety protocols and adapt the airport post-pandemic.

Southern Ontario Airport Network

Kingston, Ontario is served by the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport, also known as the Kingston Airport or YGK Airport. It is located 4.3 nautical miles (8 km) west of downtown Kingston and is the largest airport in the region. The airport was formerly a military airbase and training school known as RCAF Station Kingston, operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the Department of Transport assumed ownership after World War II. The City of Kingston has managed the airport since its purchase in 1974.

In recent years, the airport has undergone a $16 million expansion, and while it remains closed to the public, it still accommodates a range of operations. These include daily medical transfer flights, cargo flights, military operations, and private corporate flights. The airport is actively engaging in conversations with multiple airlines to restore passenger services and potentially introduce international flights.

The Kingston Airport became a part of the Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN) in 2017. SOAN is a newly formed airport alliance comprising 12 commercial airports in Southern Ontario. The network aims to enhance connectivity and efficiency in the region.

The Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN) is a strategic initiative to optimize the utilization and development of airports in Southern Ontario. By uniting 12 airports, SOAN aims to improve air travel within the region and enhance Southern Ontario's connectivity with the rest of the world. This collaborative approach allows for the efficient sharing of resources, expertise, and best practices among the member airports.

SOAN recognizes the diverse roles that airports play in the region, including commercial passenger services, cargo operations, business aviation, and general aviation. Each airport within the network contributes to the economic growth and development of its surrounding area, attracting businesses and facilitating trade. The network enables airports to collectively advocate for infrastructure improvements, regulatory changes, and industry partnerships that benefit Southern Ontario as a whole.

Additionally, SOAN facilitates the coordination of emergency response and relief efforts. The network ensures that airports can collaborate during unforeseen events, such as natural disasters or public health crises, to provide rapid and effective support to affected communities. This coordinated approach enhances the resilience of the region and showcases the critical role that airports play in Southern Ontario's overall well-being.

In summary, the Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN) is a pivotal initiative that strengthens the aviation industry in Southern Ontario. Through collaboration and strategic planning, SOAN enhances connectivity, supports economic growth, and improves the overall efficiency of air travel in the region. By uniting 12 airports, SOAN showcases the power of unity and collective action in elevating Southern Ontario's presence on the global aviation stage.

Post-pandemic challenges

Kingston, Ontario does have an airport, known as the Kingston Norman Rogers Airport or YGK Airport (IATA: YGK, ICAO: CYGK). It is located 4.3 nautical miles (8.0 km; 4.9 mi) west of downtown Kingston, Ontario, and is the largest airport in the region.

The Kingston Norman Rogers Airport has faced several challenges in the post-pandemic era. Firstly, the airport has seen a significant reduction in the number of flights operating through it. Aron Winterstein, the manager of the airport, stated in March 2023 that the airport was handling approximately 80% of the flights it did prior to the pandemic. This included a range of regular operations such as daily medical transfer flights, cargo flights, military operations, and private corporate flights. However, the absence of some services, particularly passenger flights, has had noticeable effects and led to concerns from the general public about the lack of open communication and a clear strategy for reinstating air services.

The suspension of passenger flights at the airport has had economic repercussions for the region. Shelley Hirstwood, the director of business development at Kingston Economic Development Corporation, noted that the lack of air service can impact the decision-making process for large industries looking to establish themselves in the area. Despite this, there has been major economic growth in Kingston, and Hirstwood intends to use this growth to pitch the region to potential air carriers.

Another challenge for the airport has been securing agreements with airlines to restore passenger services. Winterstein has stated that they are actively engaging in conversations with multiple airlines, but as of March 2023, no agreements had been finalized. There are hopes that international flights could be a possibility in the future, but it is not yet certain when these services might resume.

The airport did receive some positive news in the form of federal funding through the Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI). Out of the $2.8 million in funding distributed among four airports in southern Ontario, the Kingston Airport will receive a $1.3 million non-repayable investment aimed at enhancing safety protocols and adapting the airport to the post-pandemic landscape. This support is expected to facilitate the return of over 18,000 passengers traveling between Kingston and Toronto through the Kingston Airport.

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