Written by: Pat Carbonell on November 2, 2011.
What do you do when your traditional source of tourist income is dwindling because of a drawn out recession? You find a new source that isn’t.
On October 13 Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce announced the public-private effort to bring twice-weekly roundtrip air service from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport to Burlington International Airport beginning December 15th and running until April 8th.
“This is a great partnership that will boost tourism in Vermont and provide an economic boost to our ski areas,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Our new service to Vermont is a perfect complement to our current winter schedule already featuring prime destinations such as MontTremblant and Quebec City,” said Deluce. “Burlington offers access to an incredible array of spectacular ski mountains, and many vibrant communities to explore.” Canada’s economy is, unlike ours, relatively robust.
Main Entryway, BIA (courtesy Burlington International Airport)
In a joint statement, Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and Representative Peter Welch said, “Porter Airlines, Ski Vermont, Governor Shumlin, the Burlington International Airport and Customs and Border Protection came together to introduce the people of Toronto to the best skiing and riding in the U.S.A. This announcement underscores the ‘international’ in Burlington International Airport, creating seasonal scheduled nonstop service between Toronto and Burlington. While it will offer a much-needed influx of visitors to the state this winter, especially needed following the devastating blow of Hurricane Irene, it will also give Vermonters an unprecedented opportunity to visit and do business in Toronto.”
The Vermont Congressional delegation initiated this partnership by writing to Porter Airlines this past summer inviting them to begin service between Toronto and Burlington. This fall, the lawmakers have worked with the airport and other stakeholders to help iron out details surrounding clearing international visitors at the airport.
Porter Airlines, whose brand slogan is “Fly refined”, is a high-end regional airline based out of the Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. “In” the city is one of their touted benefits; they are not outside the city, with all the concommitent ground travel involved. They are five minutes from downtown. They fly a fleet of Q400 Bombadier planes, which are designed for greater passenger comfort than your average regional carrier. Their passenger lounge at Billy Bishop is all about comfort and convenience, with Wi-Fi and refreshements available in a living room atmosphere (no rows of plastic bucket seats). We’re not talking economy-class ambience here, so we’re also not talking skiing-on-a-shoestring visitors.
Funding for this international travel initiative is equal parts public and private. Vermont’s Global Trade Fund will invest nearly $200,000, while participating Vermont ski areas will invest $75,000 to market the new Toronto air route. Burlington International Airport will be making structural upgrades as part of the project.
The schedule will include weekly roundtrips on Thursdays and Sundays, with the exception of long weekends, which will offer Thursday and Monday roundtrip options. One-way fares start as low as $99, plus applicable fees and taxes, which should put the round-trip tickets in the reasonable range.
Currently Stowe Mountain Resort, Jay Peak, Smugglers Notch and Sugarbush are offering ski packages including air travel with Porter Airlines, available at www.skivermont.com . People wishing to book independently can go to Porter’s website to look for the right flights.
Unfortunately, there are no mass transit (buses or trains) routes between Burlington International Airport and the Rutland region, so the southwest part of the state loses out on this deal. Okemo in Ludlow may be able to cash in on it, as there are mass transit routes down to their neck of the woods.
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