When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic last March, everything was up in the air – except most flights. There were no exceptions to this. Private airports also experienced unprojected deficits. Tom Batiuk, Fort Frances Airport supervisor, said operations at the airport drastically changed with the hit of the pandemic. “The airline industry is suffering tremendously from COVID,” Batiuk said. “It’s not just in Fort Frances. It’s all over the globe.” Bearskin Airlines is the only scheduled service provider that comes to Fort Frances. Batiuk said most of their flights originate out of Thunder Bay. Flight times to Thunder Bay average about 40 to 50 minutes from Fort Frances.