A one-year pilot project could see a coach bus service provide transportation between Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport.
If an agreement is reached, the service could begin in late May or early June.
City council will be asked on Monday to approve the advancement of a potential deal with Landline Company and Air Canada.
Under the proposed service model, there would be two daily round trips with a brief stop at Kitchener-Waterloo Airport. Air Canada passengers would check in with agents and tag their luggage at Sarnia's airport before departing for Toronto.
Travellers would also be able to collect Aeroplan points on both the motorcoach and air segments, with provisions in place should there be any delays.
"Obviously, we would prefer to have a direct air service, but this is a start to show that we can generate the traffic," said Mayor Mike Bradley.
Discussions with airline carriers have been ongoing since 2021, read a report.
Air Canada stopped providing flight services in Sarnia in 2020.
If the pilot project proceeds, a council report said Scottsdale Aviation’s operations will need to be monitored as additional staff may be needed in the terminal building, including a cleaner.
"We have to be cognizant, there are a lot of things that have to happen at the airport. The building hasn't been used for some time. It's sitting there without the same things that we used to have when we had regular air traffic," said Bradley. "So there's some cost involved there. I think it's a good chance for a year to see if we can build back the marketplace here to use Air Canada into Pearson."
Bradley said discussions to introduce this service have been going on for about a year.
Landline and Air Canada launched the bus service in Ontario in 2024 and currently provide transportation from airports in Hamilton, Waterloo, and Kingston.
The mayor said similar discussions are also being held with VIA Rail to provide a bus service between Sarnia and London.
"So people can also tie into the VIA main line and get to other places in a timely manner. So these two initiatives have been going on for some time but it's our way of at least trying to address the transportation gap in the community and it's a good start," Bradley said. "We'll try it and hopefully, the market will support it."
In the meantime, city staff are also working with Tourism Sarnia-Lambton (TSL) to help with the financing, marketing and delivery of the pilot project.
The TSL Board of Directors was asked to commit 50 per cent of the Minimum Revenue Guarantee (MRG) of $375,000, to be funded from the Municipal Accommodation Tax collected by TSL.
The MRG would only be accessed if passenger revenues don't exceed Landline's operating costs. Revenue will not be generated from parking, as those fees will be waived for Landline customers.
Council unanimously voted to invest in the local airport in February 2025 and most recently agreed to have a new committee investigate and develop a path for success.
Monday's council meeting is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. at Sarnia City Hall.
