The Sault Ste. Marie Airport opened its doors to the public Saturday as a way of celebrating 20 years of private ownership by the Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation.
“We wanted to open the doors and say thank you to the public for supporting us over the 20 years, and really to make sure that people do realize that we are unique,” said Sault Ste. Marie Airport president and CEO Terry Bos. “We are the only private, regional-sized airport in the country.”
“We aren’t supported by the city or the province or the federal government, for that matter.”
Bos says the airport has seen an increase in the number passengers per year, from 119,000 to 215,000, within the past seven years.
The airport and its related properties currently employ more than 250 people.
“We just thought it would be a good opportunity to open the doors and let people see what actually goes on here,” Bos said. “Maybe we’ll do it again in five years for our 25th anniversary.”