YQG Company Profile

About YQG

Windsor International Airport (“YQG”) is owned by the City of Windsor and operated by Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc., a federal share corporation of the City of Windsor. In November 2007, the City approved a long-term management contract for the operations of the Airport to Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc., under the direction of an independent Board of Directors.

As a key transportation asset, YQG is centrally located within the City of Windsor, the 16th largest census metropolitan area in Canada and the Region of Essex County with a population of approximately 420,000 people. It is the only business and general aviation airport, serving the surrounding communities of Essex and Kent County, situated on an international border between Canada and the United States, with a population approaching 7.7 million within a 45 minute drive.

Follow the history of events at the Windsor International Airport

2012

Premier Aviation of Trois Rivieres opens the largest heavy airframe maintenance facility in Ontario (e.g. 143,000 sf); a first for Windsor, Ontario

2011

Windsor International Airport surpasses historical all-time record of annual passengers, with 193,000 total passengers

2007

City of Windsor appoints Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc. as the operator of the Windsor International Airport; YQG is a wholly owned federal share corporation of the City of Windsor

1998 – 2007

City of Windsor entered into 10-year management agreement with Serco Aviation Services; the agreement terminated early in February 2007

1998

Transport Canada downloaded airports to municipalities; City of Windsor took over ownership of the Windsor International Airport

1987

British Airways Concorde visited

1985

Firehall addition, replacement of runway lights and renovations to the air terminal building were completed

1983 – 1985

Improvements made to runways, taxiways, aprons and parking areas; firehall addition, replacement of runway lights and renovations to the air terminal building were completed

1976 – 1977

Expanded air terminal building

1974

Citizen’s Advisory Committee established

1969

Extended Runway 07-25 to 7,900 feet

Air Canada introduced DC-9 jet service

1967

Windsor International Airport (IATA: YQG, ICAO: CYQG) incorporated into the national portfolio of airports in Canada

1962

Canadian Pacific Airlines introduced DC-8 flights to Mexico

1960

TCA introduced Vanguard aircraft

1958

Completed construction of new air terminal building; many war surplus buildings removed

1950

City of Windsor declined to take over operation of Windsor Airport from the Department of Transport

1945

No. 7 EFTS ceased operations

1940

Department of National Defence established No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School (‘EFTS’) at Windsor Airport

Completed construction of runways, administration building and control tower

1939

Ownership transferred to the City of Windsor, which turned it over to the Department of Transportation.

Construction began on runways

1938

Canfield licence cancelled

1936

Large portion of land returned to Walker Farms with the remainder licensed as Walker Airport to Mr. John Canfield

1934

Border Cities Aero Club ran into financial difficulties; Walker Farms requested return of land

1930 – 1931

Canadian Airways used Walker Airport for air mail runs

Lighting installed on airfield for night flying

1929

Walker Airport declared a Customs Port of Entry

1928

Established the Windsor branch of the Aerial League of Canada

Border Cities Aero Club, Chamber of Commerce and Aerial League establish Walker Airport. From 1927 to 1931, Duncan .B. McColl, a bomber pilot in WWI flying Handley Pages, was the Chairman of the Aviation Committee of the Border Chamber of Commerce in Windsor; his contributions are recognized today with the naming of the Airport entrance as D. B. McColl Rd.

The turf field leased from the Hiram Walker Estate rent-free for five years; Hiram H. and Harrington E. Walker donated $10,000 to build the first hangar

Official opening took place on September 8, 1928 with an air show; an Essex County Air Derby won by Capt. F. G. M. Sparks of the Montreal Flying Club and an International Air Race from Windsor to Los Angeles, won by Drury and Oliphant of the London Flying Club

1927

Royal Windsor flight – first attempt to fly from Windsor, Ontario to Windsor, England in a Stinson Detroiter monoplane; the mission failed in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland due to mechanical problems

1920

Established Border Cities Aero Club and Aviation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce

1909

First successful powered flight in Canada by John McCurdy at Baddeck, Nova Scotia in the Silver Dart

1903

First successful powered flight by the Wright Brothers at Kittyhawk, North Carolina in the Wright Flyer

View the Official Opening Ceremony Programme from 1928

The official opening took place on September 8, 1928 with an air show; an Essex County Air Derby won by Capt. F. G. M. Sparks of the Montreal Flying Club, and an International Air Race from Windsor to Los Angeles, won by Drury and Oliphant of the London Flying Club.