Border-hopping snowbirds still driving record Hamilton helicopter traffic despite COVID crackdown
Border-hopping snowbirds are still driving record helicopter traffic to Hamilton's airport despite the latest COVID crackdown on international travel.
Great Lake Helicopters made headlines last fall when the company started flying snowbirds from Hamilton's airport to Buffalo, N.Y. for about $1,200. Once there, they collected personal vehicles shipped by truck across a border otherwise closed to non-essential traffic at an extra cost of between $700 and $1,600.
The legal border-bypassing service later changed its passenger pickup location to an airport in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
But east Mountain residents still hear and see the frequent helicopter flights - up to 16 on busy days - because pilots fly to Hamilton's airport to clear customs, said Dwayne Henderson, general manager of the Cambridge-based air operator.
As a result, the number of monthly Hamilton helicopter arrivals skyrocketed to nearly 200 in November - the highest number in at least five years, according to Statistics Canada. That's pretty much all us," said Henderson.
And despite new federal efforts to limit international travel - and rising public outrage about travellers bucking public health COVID advice to stay home - the border crossings are not slowing much.
It's actually quite surprising, the number of calls still coming in," said Henderson, who is still scheduling multiple flights three days a week for snowbirds from across Ontario, Quebec and even as far afield as Nova Scotia.
The government has long urged - but not forced, so far - Canadian air travellers to stay home during COVID.
Last week, Canada introduced new travel restrictions amid rising concerns over the spread of more contagious variants of the COVID virus. Those include large airlines temporarily suspending flights to popular sun destinations" and new rules forcing returning international travellers to quarantine in hotels at their own expense.
No one should be travelling right now," said federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu in announcing the changes. Each of us has a part in keeping our communities safe, and that means avoiding non-essential travel."
The new rules spurred a small barrage of cancellations" for border-hopping helicopter flights, said Henderson - but other snowbirds have already booked most of those open slots. Right now, we're booked almost solid through the end of February."
Henderson acknowledged some residents feel his service flies in the face of public health advice. But he pointed out the government has yet to ban non-essential flights to the U.S. for any airline. (Popular snowbird states like Arizona and Florida are not considered sun destinations.")
What I say to (critics) is we are an air operator ... just like the big airlines," said Henderson, who added the unique border shuttle is helping offset pandemic losses of tourism and normal charter business. We're following all the rules."
Henderson argued many of his customers believe a short helicopter ride and long drive is safer than airplane flight during COVID. Most of his helicopters have a three-person limit, passengers must have proof of a recent negative COVID test and no one is required to enter a busy airport terminal, he said.
So far, the latest federal travel restrictions haven't grounded his business - but they may end up ending the buzz of helicopters over Hamilton Mountain if the company is forced in future to clear customs in Toronto.
Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com