Bearskin Airlines celebrates 1st anniversary of air service from the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF)

Waterloo Region - Today the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) and Bearskin Airlines will celebrate the first anniversary of their daily air service between Waterloo Region and Ottawa. The service provides three non-stop flights on weekdays and one Saturday and Sunday flight, providing the community with a quick link to Canada's capital. The total flight time is just under one hour and guests can collect Aeroplan miles with every flight.

Founded in 1963, Bearskin Airlines celebrated their 45^th Anniversary earlier this year and is one of central Canada's oldest commuter airlines offering over 100 scheduled flights daily to 17 destinations from Winnipeg in the west to Ottawa in the east. The company has served Ottawa since 1993 when they began service from Northeastern Ontario.

"Thanks to Bearskin, our Guests now arrive in Ottawa in about an hour, something that used to take nearly five hours one-way when you factored in the drive to Toronto. It is really a wonderful service," said Jeff Schelling, Manager of Airport Development for the Region of Waterloo International Airport. "We wish the entire Bearskin Airlines team a happy anniversary and continued success."

"More than 12,000 passengers have supported our service in year one," said Ron Hell, Director of Marketing and Sales for Bearskin Airlines, "Business people have been our strongest supporters because they recognize the value of their time, but we were pleasantly surprised by the strong support from parents of college and university students looking to bring their children home for the holidays. We are proud to be celebrating our first anniversary in Waterloo Region and want to thank the community for their support."

Following are the schedule details of Bearskin Airlines non-stop Ottawa service:

Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF) to Ottawa (YOW)

Ottawa (YOW) to Kitchener/Waterloo (YKF)

Take the hassle out of your business and vacation travel and choose your local alternative! The Region of Waterloo International Airport is easy to navigate with modern amenities including high-speed wireless Internet, car rentals and complimentary baggage carts. No traffic jams or lost vehicles, just convenient and friendly air service.

 Let the Bear fly you there in less time than it takes to drive between Waterloo Region and Toronto's Airport. Save time and money and collect Aeroplan points with every flight.  For more information, visit www.bearskinairlines.com, call 1-800-465-2327 or ask your local travel agent.

The Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) is owned and operated by the Region of Waterloo. Year-round daily scheduled service is available with: Northwest Airlines, offering three flights daily to Detroit with connections to over 900 destinations around the world; WestJet, offering daily non-stop flights to Calgary with connections to Western Canada; and Bearskin Airlines, offering daily flights to Ottawa with connections to North-Eastern Ontario.  Seasonal sun vacation charter service is available from December through March with Signature Vacations and Sunwing Vacations. For more information contact your local travel agent, visit www.waterlooairport.ca or contact Airport Administration at 519-648-2256.

Bearskin Airlines: Founded in 1963, Bearskin Airlines has been catering to the needs of the business community for 45 years. No other airline offers faster, more direct service between Northern Ontario's key cities and Winnipeg or Ottawa. An Aeroplan partner since 1988, the company features primetime morning and evening service permitting same-day return flights for business. For more information, visit www.bearskinairlines.com, call 1-800-465-2327 or ask your local travel agent.