Originators of the idea, Trout Point Lodge owners Vaughn Perret and Charles Leary, have already experienced flights aboard Nature Air’s Canadian-built Twin Otter Vistaliner aircraft.
The businessmen met the owner (Alex Khajavi) of the airline, the world’s first carbon-neutral carrier, at the Geotourism Summit at the National Geographic Society Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in February where both parties accepted awards.
Perret and Leary say that Khajavi is very excited about the idea and that it fits in well with his existing service.
Costa Rica has a tourism season opposite that of Atlantic Canada and the airline, which operates more than 70 flights a day in Costa Rica and Panama during peak season, has slack demand for its aircraft during the summer months. Its carbon neutral status is attributed to the company’s efforts in helping to protect and conserve over 500 acres of tropical forests in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica since 2004.
Perret says the 19-passenger planes would be perfect for flights between Maine and Yarmouth. Views from this type of plane are excellent because of the unusually large windows and relatively low-altitude flight.
“Flying in a Twin Otter is an experience in and of itself, and given the scenery of Maine, the Bay of Fundy, and around Yarmouth, this kind of service would draw lots of tourists in addition to those simply filling a transportation need,” he said.
Perret suggests that flights could ideally have a guide onboard describing features of the landscape from Bar Harbor up the Maine Coast around the Bay of Fundy, concluding at Yarmouth.
He and his partner have been pro-actively encouraging government involvement and have received positive feedback from the manager of the Hancock County – Bar Harbor Airport in Maine.
David Rankin, executive director of the Yarmouth International Airport, is also supportive of the idea. He says the feasibility of the proposal is being determined.
“I think our next step is a conference call with some of the stakeholders then we’ll see what next step we have to take,” said Rankin.
It is a very interesting idea, I must say. They seem like a fairly progressive company. - David Rankin, executive director of the Yarmouth International Airport.
Asked whether he thought the proposed service would jeopardize the Twin Cities Service that began air service between Yarmouth and Portland, Maine last month, Rankin said he didn’t think it would.
“This is a lot different; I don’t think it would jeopardize it. It’s a different idea really than a scheduled passenger service,” he said.
“It is a very interesting idea, I must say. They seem like a fairly progressive company.”
Opportunities for packaging also exist and at least one local tour business operator in Yarmouth has voiced support for the idea.
Starlink Aviation of Montreal provided service from the Yarmouth airport to Portland and Halifax from February to December last year. It stopped when a $2-million provincial subsidy fund that had been put in place to help build its air service was depleted.
