The re-naming of the Toronto City Centre Airport could have some positive economic spin offs for the Owen Sound’s airport.
That airport is now known as the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the manager of the Billy Bishop Regional Airport in Owen Sound says he has mixed feelings about that move.
Barry Lewin says he didn’t like the way the Toronto Port Authority went about this without any consultation with Owen Sound Airport officials about the impact it would have on the local facility.
However, on the other hand Lewin says he is pleased that Billy Bishop and his family will be recognized in this way.
Lewin goes on to say that this also could be a positive move as far as the local tourism industry is concerned, as people flying into the Toronto Billy Bishop airport, may want to come north and check out Owen Sound and the Billy Bishop Home and Museum.
The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport also is the home base for Porter Airlines, and Lewin says hopes the airline will provide some form of promotional or educational material in its aircraft informing passengers about Billy Bishop and his hometown.
He says he knows the owner of the airline and will be speaking with him in the next little while to see what can be done to raise awareness of the Owen Sound Billy Bishop Airport and the historic site.
Lewin suggests even a promotional flight by Porter from the Toronto Billy Bishop to Owen Sound is something to consider as the local airport could handle the Dash 8’s flowing by the airline.