โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Red Lake Airport holds extraordinary aviation history as the world's busiest airport during 1936-1937, when aircraft landed at 15-minute intervals on Howey Bay waters transporting prospectors and supplies to the legendary gold rush that attracted 3,000 fortune seekers to this remote northwestern Ontario wilderness. Located 3 nautical miles north of Red Lake and 1 kilometer south of Cochenour, this facility evolved from its original 1926 float and seaplane base to support what became the 'High-Grade Gold Capital of the World,' producing over 29 million ounces from deposits averaging two ounces per tonne.
The modern airport features a 5,001-foot asphalt runway equipped with precision approach lighting and PAPI guidance systems, supporting four airlines that make Red Lake a mini-hub for over twenty northern fly-in communities. Wasaya Airways connects remote First Nations including Pikangikum, Deer Lake, and Keewaywin using Cessna Caravans, while Bearskin Airlines provides 28 weekly departures to Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout with Metroliners and Beech 1900s, North Star Air serves cargo and charter needs, and Superior Airways maintains essential northern connections.
Operational characteristics center on supporting Evolution Mining's Red Lake operations (acquired from Newmont Goldcorp in 2019) which integrated the Campbell, Red Lake, Cochenour, and Balmer complexes producing 414,400 ounces annually from the legendary High Grade Zone. The facility serves as Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' firefighting base protecting vast boreal forests, supports helicopter logging and mineral exploration across the region's greenstone belts, and maintains critical medical evacuation capabilities for communities where winter temperatures plunge below -40ยฐC.
Strategic importance encompasses preserving access to claims originally staked in 1925 by Ray and Lorne Howey and George McNeely that launched Canada's last great gold rush, supporting modern mining operations that have extracted over $20 billion in gold since commercial production began at Howey Mine, maintaining essential services for Indigenous communities across northwestern Ontario's roadless wilderness, and continuing the aviation legacy of a remote bay that once handled more air traffic than any airport on Earth during the frenzied gold rush years.
๐ Connection Tips
Red Lake Airport occupies a unique position in Canadian aviation history as a facility that evolved from the world's busiest airport during the 1936-1937 gold rush to today's vital regional transportation hub serving northwestern Ontario's mining and First Nations communities. Originally operating from Howey Bay on Red Lake as a float and seaplane base beginning in 1926, the airport relocated to its current site 1 kilometer south of Cochenour, maintaining its crucial role supporting the region's active gold mining operations and remote community connections. The modern facility features a 5,001-foot asphalt runway equipped with precision approach lighting, PAPI guidance systems, and comprehensive weather monitoring capabilities essential for operations in one of Canada's most challenging climatic regions.
Wasaya Airways operates scheduled passenger services from Red Lake using reliable Cessna Caravan aircraft to connect remote First Nations communities including Pikangikum, Deer Lake, and Keewaywin, providing essential transportation links where road access remains impossible. Bearskin Airlines provides approximately 28 weekly departures to Winnipeg and Sioux Lookout using Fairchild Metroliner and Beechcraft 1900 aircraft, maintaining vital connections to urban centers for healthcare, education, and business needs. Weather presents significant operational challenges typical of the northwestern Ontario boreal region, with harsh winters featuring temperatures plunging below -30ยฐC, frequent snowstorms, and wind chill conditions reaching -40ยฐC that can ground aircraft and delay flights for extended periods.
The airport serves as a crucial base for Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fire-fighting operations, helicopter logging support, and mineral exploration activities throughout the vast wilderness region rich in gold, copper, and other valuable resources. Ground transportation connections remain limited due to the region's remote location, with most passenger movement depending on local taxi services, mining company vehicles, or connections to the broader regional highway network via gravel roads.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
60
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Conklin (Leismer) Airport (CFM), also identified by its ICAO code CET2, is a registered aerodrome located in Alberta, Canada. This airport plays a crucial role in supporting the region's oil and gas industry, particularly for operations related to the Leismer oil sands project. Primarily serving charter and private flights, it facilitates the transport of personnel and supplies to and from remote work sites, contributing significantly to the logistical network of Northern Alberta's energy sector.
As a small airport without scheduled commercial service, CFM does not feature a traditional passenger terminal with extensive retail or dining options. However, it does operate a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) named Leismer Aerodrome Ltd., which provides essential amenities and services. These FBO services typically include a pilot lounge, a flight planning area, and potentially basic comforts like free coffee. While detailed specifics on passenger facilities are limited, the focus is on efficient processing and support for general and corporate aviation movements.
Operational aspects at Conklin (Leismer) Airport include a paved runway, designated 09/27, measuring 5251 feet in length, equipped with an Omni-Directional Approach Lighting System. Fuel (JA-1) is available on-site. The airport operates under Prior Permission Required (PPR) conditions, meaning users must obtain permission before landing. Communication is managed via an Aerodrome Traffic Frequency (ATF) / UNICOM, and a Peripheral Station (PAL) Edmonton Center frequency. These operational details highlight its role as a specialized aviation facility catering to the specific needs of the region's industrial activities.
๐ Connection Tips
Conklin (Leismer) Airport (CFM) is a private industrial aerodrome rather than a public passenger airport, so connection planning here belongs entirely in the realm of company logistics. If your trip involves CFM, the practical hub is Edmonton or Calgary, and the final movement to Leismer is a controlled charter or project flight, not a normal airline transfer. That means no meaningful airline-style recovery exists at the airfield itself if timing changes.
The main implication is simple: protect the commercial itinerary at YEG or YYC and treat the Conklin segment as the last, highly specific movement of the day. If a worker transfer, contractor rotation, or project charter is involved, confirm the departure details through the operations team rather than assuming public flight patterns or airport services. This is a site-support airfield, so the schedule is driven by project needs, not by general passenger convenience.
On arrival, the airport process is part of corporate access control, not casual landside movement. You should already know who is meeting you, what transport is taking you to camp or site, and how the plan changes if the inbound airline is late. CFM works best when the whole trip is stitched together before departure: commercial hub protected, company charter confirmed, local transfer assigned, and enough buffer in Alberta that a late inbound does not break the only workable connection to the project airfield.
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