Stephen Smith, the former president of WestJet, is targeting Hamilton Ontario as a key site for his company's air taxi service. Smith purchased the Canadian franchise rights for the Earthjet air taxi service.

An air taxi operating out of Hamilton would allow a quick commute to Toronto, rather than relying on congested highway travel.

The idea could still be 2-4 years away. Earthjet is still looking for a manufacturer who can create their desired fleet of aircraft - airplanes that are small, 5-6 seats, and will be able to fly into regional and major airports (maximum flight = 1600 km).

The next step would be finding franchise owners to run the air taxi service from airports across Canada.

Earthjet hopes to see hundreds of these aircraft operating eventually. The company envisions leather seated planes with a self-serve drink service and a private washroom.

Smith plans to sell the seats at a price that would be competitive with major carriers.

Source:
Air taxis focus on Hamilton - Pilots sought for franchise scheme
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