British invasion touches down in capital
She was so excited, she probably could have flown over the Atlantic herself.
But 77-year-old Pam Tongue of West Midlands, England, just had to sit back and enjoy her trip over the blue ocean aboard the 259-seat Air Transat Airbus A310.
Tonque landed at Fredericton International Airport shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday on the inaugural flight into New Brunswick's capital city.
The U.K. tour company, called Canadian Affair, has added Fredericton to its list of landing spots as it markets Canada to British tourists. There are 26 flights, one a week, this spring through to mid-October.
"I got up at 7 o'clock this morning. First time I've ever been on a long plane in me life," Tongue said in her lilting English accent. "That's me grandson. His wife. Two great-granddaughters, me son-in-law. Me daughter there. We're going to have a big party tonight.''
"It's great me nan's come to see us," her beaming grandson told her. "You're going to be famous, Nan."
Her first visit to Canada and still bouncy after her nine hours in the air, Tongue said she wanted to see everything.
"I'm going to have a wonderful time here. They're going to take me to see everything I've always wanted to see," she said.
That's exactly what provincial Tourism and Parks Minister Stuart Jamieson wanted to hear.
If 2,000 United Kingdom visitors stay in New Brunswick, visit its attractions, eat and drink and stay in hotels, the province expects to earn $1.6 million in additional tourism revenue.
To bolster the positive results, the province and City of Fredericton have been marketing Canada to British, Welsh, Irish and Scots as the place to come and see.
About six U.K. journalists took up the province on its invitation of a tourism junket, and officials hope for positive travel features to keep growing the market.
"Our department will take them around Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John. It's a positive thing to keep increasing the market," Jamieson said. "It's great stuff for all of us. A lot of them (U.K. tourists) are enthused about seeing some of our wilderness and the Bay of Fundy."
In addition, New Brunswick is pushing to have the St. John River designated as a heritage river and even with the tragic side of flooding, international attention has still been focused on the province this week.
"Everybody will benefit from it. Restaurants, hotels, Science East and places like that," said Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside. "There's a lot of personal connections between New Brunswick and Great Britain as well. It's great news. It will have a great economic impact."
Greater Fredericton Airport Authority Inc. president and chief executive officer David Innes said 142 passengers flew into Fredericton, and 82 passengers were booked to take the return flight to Gatwick airport via Haliax later Tuesday evening.
"This is pretty darn exciting I'll tell you that,'' Innes said.
"To have a direct service from Europe and particularly the United Kingdom with so many people around here being able to trace their roots. There's a natural community of interest between New Brunswick and Great Britain.''
While the service has a stop in Halifax going and coming to Canada, if there's sufficient air traffic, Fredericton could eventually earn a non-stop flight to England.
"We're outselling our forecasts already on our first flight," Innes said. "Fares are great. For $100 each way, you can upgrade to business class."
Canadian Affair is a subsidiary of Transat A.T. Inc., which flies to more than 60 countries.
Canadian Affair flies to seven Canadian airports in the summer from eight U.K. airports and has nearly 60 flights per week.
Kathryn Munro, Canadian Affair communications and marketing director, said the company is a lean, focused business and will be keeping a close eye on the bottom line.
"What today is about is the start of a journey," Munro said at an arrival news conference Tuesday at the airport. "We know this summer we've got a lot to deliver."
Canadian Affair is the first tour operator delivering U.K. passengers to New Brunswick.
"We greatly appreciate the work and support from the province, the airport and our tourism partners. Without their hard work and determination, this route would not have taken off," she said.
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