Air travel between New Brunswick and Alberta will get a little easier next summer.
Flair Airlines announced Thursday they would be adding a non-stop flight connecting Saint John and Edmonton.
Starting June 15, 2027, the route will operate twice a week.
“This is an exciting milestone for Saint John and our region,” Saint John Airport president and CEO Court Edeburn said in a statement.
“Direct access to Edmonton opens new opportunities for tourism, business and families travelling between Atlantic and Western Canada.”
Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long said the improved access to and from Saint John will help grow the region’s visitor economy, strengthen business ties across the country and create new opportunities for local employers and entrepreneurs.
“Better connectivity makes our region more competitive, more accessible and better positioned for future growth,” Long said.
Flair CEO Len Corrado said the airline wants to help more Canadians experience what the country has to offer.
“We’re giving Canadians more opportunities to spend time in the places and with the people who matter most,” he said in statement.
Flights will be open for booking as of Oct. 15, and Flair said they’ll feature introductory one-way fares starting at $199 in both directions.
A little piece of history can be found at the Saint John Airport this weekend.
Air Show Atlantic features many interesting planes, but maybe none more so than Larry Ricker’s.
Ricker, a pilot for 52 years with the Royal Canadian Air Force and Air Canada, flies a Nieuport 11.
It’s a seven-eighths-scale recreation of the First World War fighter, an important aircraft during the war.
“It was the first fighter for Canada,” Ricker said.
Ricker said it’s a tough plane to handle, designed just a few years after aviation first came to Canada.
He described the training that new pilots received before heading into combat, and it was not extensive.
“As early as being 15 years old with as little as five hours of flying experience,” he said.
“Five hours, one hour on the gun to learn how to shoot it and they were sent off.”
Ricker said the plane is slow, but the story it tells is about bravery and survival, how the First World War helped shape Canada.
Ricker has flown his plane “Lucie,” named for his wife, in a significant bit of history.
In 2017, he was part of a group of 10 former Royal Canadian Air Force pilots who flew their planes over Vimy, France.
It was part of a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
“History repeats itself,” he said. “And the importance of telling the story of the lessons we’ve learned in the past is really all about preventing that same event happening again.”
Saint John Council has approved the first steps toward a proposed hotel development on the city’s east side that could become the closest hotel to Saint John Airport.
Council gave the project first and second readings during Monday’s meeting.
The proposal calls for a five-storey Hyatt hotel at 615-631 Loch Lomond Rd. If it receives final approval at a third reading, expected at the next council meeting, the hotel would be located about 25 minutes from the airport, making it the closest hotel to the facility.
Ontario-based Lakeview Development is proposing the project in partnership with Hyatt Hotels.
Hyatt is a U.S.-based hospitality company that owns, manages, and franchises hotels, resorts, and all-inclusive properties in more than 80 countries.
Last month, the planning advisory committee approved a partial rezoning of the property from mid-rise residential to business park to allow for the hotel development. The committee also approved a variance to permit the creation of a lot without street frontage, facilitating a subdivision of the property.
The committee recommended council require the developer to pay $25,000 toward traffic-related improvements.
At the planning advisory committee meeting, Lakeview Development CFO Umar Mehmood said the project would operate under Hyatt Studios, the company’s extended-stay hotel brand. The concept offers guests self-service amenities and in-room features while maintaining Hyatt’s standard guest experience.
During Monday’s council meeting, Coun. Paul Dempsey raised concerns about the project’s potential effect on traffic.
City staff said a traffic impact study found existing level-of-service concerns at nearby intersections but concluded the hotel is not expected to significantly affect traffic operations in the area.
No construction timeline was mentioned in the meeting.
A commercial development project on lands around the Saint John Airport is progressing.
Both the airport and Neqotkuk First Nation say they have been working to advance the first phase of the project.
According to a joint statement issued Aug. 6, the project includes a gas station with two restaurant spaces.
Both organizations are continuing to evaluate other opportunities for the site, no other developments are being announced at the moment.
The statement said the public may start to see activity related to the announced development in the coming weeks.
Both Saint John Airport and Neqotkuk First Nation said they’re committed to responsible planning, collaboration, and ensuring the community receives accurate information as the project progresses.
Saint John could soon get a hotel near its airport after the city’s planning advisory committee (PAC) unanimously approved a rezoning and variance application for a development on Loch Lomond Road.
The project would partially rezone 615-631 Loch Lomond Rd. from mid-rise residential to business park commercial to allow the construction of a five-storey Hyatt hotel and associated parking.
The project would be the first Hyatt hotel in the city.
Hyatt Hotels is a U.S.-based global hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and all-inclusive properties in more than 80 countries.
The development is proposed by Ontario-based real estate firm Lakeview Development Holdings Inc.
Lakeview Development CFO Umar Mehmood said in the July 21 meeting Hyatt Hotels approached the firm after reviewing its property portfolio and expressing interest in the Loch Lomond Road site.
Mehmood said representatives from Hyatt and Lakeview later visited Saint John, where Hyatt identified the property as a “fantastic site” for its new extended-stay hotel brand, Studios. The hotels allow guests to access Hyatt’s “signature guest experience” through self-serve amenities and in-room offerings.
“They believe the city needs a modern-day hotel with modern-day amenities,” he said.
Mehmood added that Hyatt was also interested in the site because of its proximity to Saint John Airport and the city’s attractive vacancy rates.
No details about the construction timeline were shared during the meeting.
Lakeview also requested a variance that would allow the creation of a lot without street frontage to facilitate subdivision of the rear portion of the property.
The committee approved the rezoning and variance applications unanimously, but recommended common council impose a condition requiring the developer to pay $25,000 to the city for costs related to traffic improvements.
The project remains subject to council approval. A public hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17 during a meeting of common council.
Air travellers in the greater Saint John area will have new options beginning in June.
The Saint John Airport is reconnecting with the Porter Airlines network on June 15.
A release from the airport said the move will bring “enhanced connectivity and convenient access to destinations across Canada.”
It’s being facilitated by the opening of a new terminal at Montréal Metropolitan Airport (MET) and a partnership with the regional airline Pascan Aviation.
It means passengers with Porter can buy a single ticket that includes flights with both Porter and Pascan and connect with major Canadian cities through Montreal.
The list includes Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Toronto through Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
In a statement, Saint John Airport president and CEO Court Edeburn said it’s an exciting moment for southwestern New Brunswick.
“Rejoining the Porter airlines network opens the door to more destinations, more choice and a smoother travel experience for our community,” Edeburn said.
Saint John Airport is using student artwork to promote environmental sustainability with a new electric vehicle wrapped in drawings from Loch Lomond Elementary.
The wrap features eight designs created through a school contest that asked children to show what protecting the environment means to them.
Lori Carle, the airport’s manager of community engagement, said the idea started when staff were deciding how to brand the plain white EV.
“The head of security had the light‑bulb idea and said maybe we could do something with the elementary school,” Carle said.
“And then it hit me — we need to do an art contest.”
Carle explained the airport, and the school invited children to submit drawings focused on environmental themes.
“The kids were really excited to participate,” she said.
All eight designs selected for the wrap came from the same classroom, which Carle said was an unexpected coincidence.
The airport also held a draw for all participants, offering a gift certificate to an art supply store to support their creativity.
Carle said the children’s reaction to the wrapped vehicle was memorable.
“They were pointing at the car, running around it, and just the concept that their art is going to be mobile and seen by a variety of people made them excited,” she said.
Saint John Airport’s new electric vehicle wrapped in student artwork. Image: YSJ Media Release
Loch Lomond Elementary is part of the airport’s PALS partnership, which connects local businesses with nearby schools.
Carle said the relationship includes career days, heritage fairs, planting marigolds in the spring and helping with fundraisers.
She said the EV project has encouraged the airport to think differently about how it works with the school.
“It’s made us think outside the box on how we can work together,” Carle said.
“We’re starting to look for other ideas now that might be a little different.”
Carle said the electric vehicle also supports the airport’s sustainability goals.
As a federally regulated, not‑for‑profit airport, YSJ must work toward national environmental targets.
“Every year we’re trying to move the needle on things we can do that reduce our carbon footprint,” she said.
She said the EV is a practical fit for the security team and aligns with the airport’s long‑term environmental commitments.
“An electric vehicle makes so much sense for that role,” Carle said.
Carle added that the school’s principal shared that the children were excited to take part.
She said the artwork was completed in November, the wrap was installed in December, and the airport launched the vehicle this month.
The wrapped EV is now in regular use on airport grounds and will also be seen in the community when staff travel for errands.
Canada’s top aerobatic team will be in Saint John next summer to perform.
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds recently released their 2026 performance schedule, and it includes two days of shows as part of Airshow Atlantic at the Saint John Airport on Aug. 29 and 30.
The 2026 season will be a special one for the Snowbirds, as they mark 55 years of aerial shows.
The team is renowned for their recognizable red and white Tutors, precision flying and the skill and dedication that reflect the best of the CAF.
Along with the Snowbirds, the airshow has confirmed the RCAF CF-18 Hornet Tactical Demonstration from CFB Bagotville 3 Wing, Quebec, and the CAF Skyhawks Parachute Team will be in Saint John.
More information on performers, ticket details and event updates can visit Airshow Atlantic’s website.
The Saint John Airport welcomed a new CEO this week.
A release from the airport said Court Edeburn was named to the position and began his role Monday.
Edeburn comes to Saint John from Rocky Mountaineer, a luxury train company in western Canada. He was serving as vice-president of operations and chief safety officer.
“On behalf of the board, I am thrilled to welcome Court to YSJ,” board chair Susan Harley said in the release. “His depth of operational experience and his people-focused leadership style make him the right person to guide the airport through its next phase of growth.”
Edeburn said he’s honoured to join the Saint John Airport.
“YSJ plays a vital role in the region’s connectivity and economic growth,” he said. “I look forward to working with the team and community to build on its momentum.
Edeburn has held senior roles at Air Canada, including general manager-Vancouver, general manager-Prairies and director of customer experience.
