4/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“Check-in and baggage claim are quick, and the airport is conveniently located close to the city.”
sayan ganguly5★ on Google
Airports / Canada / YQT
Medium airport · YQT
Thunder Bay International Airport.
Thunder Bay, Canada · 653 ft elevation. 3 charter operators based here.
4.1/5
Google rating
696 ratings
3
Operators based
653
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Thunder Bay, CanadaELEV 653 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.1
Google rating
696
Google reviews
ratings on Google
3
Based operators
charter operators on the field
653
Field elevation
feet above sea level
80
Nearest alternate
nm to CMX
Field standing
3 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 75% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
80 nm
To the nearest alternate
Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX).
Overview
Thunder Bay International Airport, listed as CYQT / YQT, is a mid-sized airport in Thunder Bay, Canada. The field lies at an elevation of 653 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: North Star Air Ltd., Thunder Airlines, and Wasaya Airways base aircraft at YQT. Useful alternates include Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX, 80 nm), Atikokan Municipal Airport (YIB, 95 nm), and Ely Municipal Airport (LYU, 106 nm). YQT offers 2 runways, the longest 7,318-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of YQT vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from YQT, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at CYQT? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
4/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Thunder Bay International Airport is small, clean, and easy to navigate.”
sayan ganguly5★ on Google
4/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Security is efficient, staff are friendly, and everything feels well organized without the stress you get at larger airports.”
sayan ganguly5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Thunder Bay International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CYQT
IATA
YQT
FAA / Local
CYQT
Elevation
653 ft
Coordinates
48.3719° N · 89.3239° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Canada fields
state range 6–3,940 ft
At 653 ft, YQT sits lower than 58% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 7,318 ft
- 07/257,318 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 12/305,297 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,318 ft
YQT's 7,318 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators3
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 80nmCMXHoughton County Memorial AirportHancock
- 95nmYIBAtikokan Municipal AirportAtikokan
- 106nmLYUEly Municipal AirportEly
- 114nmZUCIgnace Municipal AirportIgnace
- 116nmIWDGogebic Iron County AirportIronwood
- 116nmYYWArmstrong AirportArmstrong
Location
Open the full mapCYQT · Thunder Bay International Airport · Thunder Bay, Canada
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Thunder Bay International Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from YQT on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago (ORD) | 389 nm | 1h 18m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 745 nm | 2h 8m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 764 nm | 2h 11m |
| New York (TEB) | 791 nm | 2h 14m |
| Denver (DEN) | 833 nm | 2h 20m |
| Boston (BED) | 836 nm | 2h 21m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 920 nm | 2h 32m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 934 nm | 2h 34m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use YQT?
- Thunder Bay International Airport's longest paved runway is 7,318 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at YQT?
- Thunder Bay International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 7,318 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at YQT?
- Yes. 3 charter operators list Thunder Bay International Airport as a home base, including North Star Air Ltd., Thunder Airlines, Wasaya Airways. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to YQT?
- The closest alternate is Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX), about 80 nm away, followed by Atikokan Municipal Airport (YIB) at 95 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from YQT to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 18m (389 nm), Nashville about 2h 8m (745 nm), Washington DC about 2h 11m (764 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.