Airport type Public Location Cochenour, Ontario Code YRL Phone +1 807-662-2581 | Serves Red Lake, Ontario Time zone CST (UTC−06:00) Elevation 386 m Province Ontario | |
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Owner The Corporation of the Municipality of Red Lake Operator Thunder Bay Airport Services Inc.
Municipality of Red Lake Address 2508 ON-125, Cochenour, ON P0V 1L0, Canada Profiles | ||
Red Lake Airport, (IATA: YRL, ICAO: CYRL), is located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) north of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Red Lake Airport is located 1 km (0.62 mi) south of the community of Cochenour, Ontario. The airport serves as a point of call for air carriers offering scheduled passenger service; an operating base for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; and services both private and commercial fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter operators located on site.
History
Commercial air service to the area began in 1926 using the waters of Howey Bay on Red Lake as a float and sea plane base. Due to the freight requirements of the gold mines developing in the area, Howey Bay was recognized as the busiest airport in the world during 1936 and 1937.
Construction of a 4,000 ft × 150 ft (1,219 m × 46 m) gravel runway began in 1946 and was put into use of May 29, 1947 when Canadian Pacific Air Lines began daily service from Winnipeg.
The airport operated privately until 1959 when the Department of Transport took over and lighting was installed. In 1996, the Township of Golden became the owner/operator of the Red Lake Airport and two years later, in 1998, the Township of Golden and Red Lake along with the Local Services Board of Madsen amalgamated to form the Municipality of Red Lake.
It wasn't until 1993 when the paved runway was extended to 5,000 ft × 150 ft (1,524 m × 46 m) to help serve the future growth of the Red Lake area.
In October 2011, a brand new state-of-the-art airport terminal opened its doors to help serve the growing numbers of regional visitors and travellers. On June 22, 2012 the airport terminal was officially named J.E.J. Fahlgren Terminal after a man who had a great vision for the area.
Those leaving or arriving in Red Lake now enter a building that has a large ticket and rental car counters, luggage carousels, naturally lit seating areas, Nav Canada offices and space for administration. Along with these additions, a modern parking lot has been implemented and a rental space is available for franchises inside the airport terminal building.