The city's corporate profile lifted off Tuesday with the opening of a 10,000-square-foot jet hangar at St. Thomas Municipal Airport.
Ald. Bill Aarts, who was chairperson of the project and master of ceremonies for the opening, smiled, noting construction of the hangar came in both under budget and ahead of the projected completion date.

The $1.5-million hangar provides enough room to hold a Gulf Airstream 5 and a Dash 8, Arts noted.

The Gulf Airstream 5 is ranked as one of the most popular privately-owned corporate jets while the Dash 8 is used by many airlines on regional routes.
Aarts said the hangar allows passengers to board from inside the building. It also means airplanes that need de-icing can be serviced inside.
The new hangar is a valuable asset to the airport, which is the hub for 29,000 flights a year, Aarts said.

The hangar is also seen as a facility that could be used if the airport became a centre for an emergency search and rescue mission.
"If we ever have (search and rescue) planes coming out of Trenton, we can accommodate them," Aarts said.

Joe Preston, Conservative MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, gave credit to airport superintendent Dale Arndt.

"Things work around here because of Dale's connections and his willingness to go the extra mile," Preston stressed.

Liberal Elgin-Middlesex- London MPP Steve Peters said the St. Thomas airport traces its beginnings back to August, 1941.