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Muskoka Airport is a small regional airport located in Ontario, Canada. Approximately 7 kilometres or 4 nautical miles south of Bracebridge, the airport is owned and operated by the District Municipality of Muskoka. Muskoka Airport is an official Canada Customs Port of Entry, offering aircraft maintenance, parking, sightseeing flights, and flying lessons.
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What You'll Learn
The airport is 7.4 km south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada
Muskoka Airport (IATA: YQA, ICAO: CYQA) is a small regional airport located 7.4 km south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. The airport is classified as an official Canada Customs Port of Entry, and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on a call-out basis. CBSA officers at this airport can accommodate general aviation aircraft with a maximum of 15 passengers.
Muskoka Airport began construction in 1933 as a make-work project during the Great Depression. Staff were paid $1 per day, plus keep, to clear and level the landing strip. The airport opened in 1936 under the name Reay Airport, and was renamed two years later. During World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, earning the nickname "Little Norway". The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) also used the airport as an auxiliary airfield during the war.
In the mid-20th century, the airport was an emergency landing facility for Trans Canada Airlines and the RCAF. Since 1996, the airport has been owned by the District Municipality of Muskoka. A permanent memorial honouring the airport's contribution to Norway's air force was opened in 2007.
Muskoka Airport offers aircraft maintenance and parking, as well as sightseeing flights and flying lessons. The closest major airport to Muskoka is North Bay/Jack Garland Airport (YYB / CYYB), located 156 km from the centre of Muskoka.
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It's an official Canada Customs Port of Entry
Muskoka Airport is a small regional airport located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. It is classified as an official Canada Customs Port of Entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on a call-out basis. The CBSA officers at the airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.
The airport's history dates back to 1933 when it began construction as a make-work project during the Great Depression. Staff were paid $1 per day, plus keep, to clear and level the landing strip. It opened in 1936 as Reay Airport and was renamed Muskoka Airport in 1938. During World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, earning the nickname "Little Norway." It was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an auxiliary airfield to CFB Borden.
After the war, the airport was utilised as an emergency landing facility for Trans Canada Airlines and the RCAF. In 1996, ownership of the airport was transferred to the District Municipality of Muskoka. Today, Muskoka Airport continues to serve general aviation, offering aircraft maintenance, parking, sightseeing flights, and even flying lessons.
The airport's status as an official Canada Customs Port of Entry means that it is authorised to process the arrival and departure of aircraft and passengers entering or leaving Canadian territory. This designation ensures that the airport meets the necessary security, customs, and immigration requirements as outlined by the Canadian government. It facilitates the efficient clearance of aircraft and passengers, making Muskoka Airport a convenient gateway to the Muskoka region for both domestic and international travellers.
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Muskoka Airport is owned by the District Municipality of Muskoka
Muskoka Airport (IATA: YQA, ICAO: CYQA) is a small regional airport located in Ontario, Canada. Specifically, it is situated 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south of Bracebridge. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is recognised as an official Canada Customs Port of Entry. It offers aircraft maintenance and parking and can also arrange sightseeing flights and flying lessons.
The airport has a rich history, with its construction beginning in 1933 as a make-work project during the Great Depression. Staff were paid $1 per day, plus keep, to clear and level the landing strip. It opened in 1936 under the name Reay Airport, only to be renamed two years later to its current name, Muskoka Airport. During World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, earning the nickname "Little Norway". The airport also functioned as an auxiliary airfield for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during the war.
Following the war, the airport's military use ended, and ownership was transferred to Transport Canada. In 1996, the District Municipality of Muskoka became the owners of the airport. A permanent memorial honouring the airport's contribution to Norway's air force was unveiled in 2007.
In recent years, Muskoka Airport has seen scheduled summer seasonal flights operated by Porter Airlines from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. However, this service did not continue in 2023. The airport currently caters to general aviation, charters, and other operators. It is an accessible option for pilots looking for a local airport.
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It was a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force
Muskoka Airport is a small regional airport located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. The airport was constructed in 1933 as a make-work project during the Great Depression, opening in 1936 as Reay Airport. From 1942 until the end of World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF).
During World War II, the Norwegian Army Air Service and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service were unable to defend Norway against Nazi Germany's attacks. As a result, Norway's King and key government and military members fled to England, where the Norwegian government-in-exile began setting up a new base of operations. Arrangements were made to transfer Norwegian pilots to a North American headquarters, and a base around Toronto Island Airport in Toronto was chosen.
In 1939, Norwegian aviator Bernt Balchen travelled to the United States on a mission to negotiate the purchase of aircraft ordnance and ammunition for Norway. Balchen held dual Norwegian-US citizenship and had extensive contacts in the aviation industry, making him well-suited for this task. However, following the fall of France in 1940, Balchen's mission changed. He was now instructed to set up a training camp and school for expatriate Norwegian airmen and soldiers in Canada.
The first training camp for the RNAF was established at Port George VI Island Airport in the Toronto Islands. However, in 1941, a fatal plane crash between a Norwegian plane and a Toronto ferry led to a search for a new location. As a result, in May 1942, the training camp was moved to a 430-acre site at Muskoka Airport, about 79 miles (127 km) north of Toronto.
Known as "Little Norway", Muskoka Airport served as the main training base in Canada for the RNAF during World War II. Over 2,500 Norwegian airmen received training in various bases of "Little Norway", including Muskoka. The training continued at Muskoka until February 1945, when the camp was moved to an air base in Winkleigh, Devon, England. Today, a memorial inside the Muskoka Airport terminal building commemorates the airport's contribution to Norway's air force during World War II.
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The airport can handle general aviation aircraft only
Muskoka Airport is a small regional airport located 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. It is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on a call-out basis. The CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, which typically carry no more than 15 passengers. The airport is used by general aviation, charters, and other operators. It offers aircraft maintenance and parking and can arrange sightseeing flights and flying lessons.
Muskoka Airport began construction in 1933 as a make-work project during the Great Depression. Staff were paid $1 per day, plus keep, to clear and level the landing strip. The airport opened in 1936 as Reay Airport and was renamed two years later. During World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, earning the nickname "Little Norway". It was also used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as an auxiliary airfield to CFB Borden. After the war, the airport was transferred to Transport Canada, ending its military use.
The airport has been owned by the District Municipality of Muskoka since 1996. A permanent memorial dedicated to the airport's contribution to Norway's air force was unveiled in 2007. In recent years, Porter Airlines operated seasonal flights from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, but these were discontinued after 2022.
While Muskoka Airport caters to general aviation, larger nearby airports include North Bay/Jack Garland Airport (YYB/CYYB), 156 km away, and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ/CYYZ), 204 km away. These airports may offer a wider range of domestic and international flight options for passengers.
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Frequently asked questions
Muskoka Airport is located approximately 7 kilometres south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada.
Muskoka Airport's IATA code is YQA, and its ICAO code is CYQA.
The airport primarily handles general aviation traffic but is also capable of handling commercial services and is a Canadian Customs Port of Entry.
The airport is owned and operated by the District Municipality of Muskoka.
Muskoka Airport began construction in 1933 as a make-work project during the Great Depression. It opened in 1936 as Reay Airport and was renamed Muskoka Airport in 1938. During World War II, it served as a training facility for the Royal Norwegian Air Force and as an auxiliary airfield for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
