Stephenville airport could be on final approach to Dymond deal - Action News
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Stephenville airport could be on final approach to Dymond deal

A decision on the possible sale of the Stephenville airport may be imminent, according to comments made by a councillor and the mayor at a public meeting.

Mayor says very significant meeting scheduled in coming days

A sign with a town logo is shown.
At a Stephenville town council meeting Thursday night, the mayor and a councillor indicated that an agreement to sell the local airport may be close. (Colleen Connors/CBC)

A decision on the possible sale of the Stephenville airport may be imminent.

That news broke at a town council meeting Thursdaynight, as councillors voted to give the airport another $50,000 grant to keep the operation running.

Coun. Lenny Tiller cast the sole dissenting vote in opposition to the contribution.

He suggested that the amount of the grant could be cut at least for now with a possible sale looming.

"It has been said publicly by the purchaser that we could be a day or so away from a deal here," Tiller said during the public meeting.

The most recent $50,000 grant follows similar contributions by council to the airport in March and May.

Mayor Tom Rose spoke in favour of the grantand shed a little more light on what could happen in the near future.

"They are, from what I understand, just days away. And we have Mr. Carl Dymond arriving here on Monday," Rose said.

"There's a board meeting on Tuesday that's taking place that could be a very significant meeting, with a vote that could take place."

A man in a blue jacket speaks into a microphone while facing to the left with a logo in the background.
Carl Dymond of the Dymond Group of Companies speaks at a press conference in Stephenville on Sept. 9. Dymond was publicly unveiling plans to acquire the airport in the western Newfoundland town. (Troy Turner/CBC)

In September, Dymond announced a framework agreement to acquire the airport from the local authority.

He said his plans include the creation of thousands of jobs, and an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Dymond has said he will manufacture massive cargo drones, and facilitate the return of scheduled passenger service.

But the deal didn't close by the initial deadline at the end of Decemberabout 5 months ago and there has been mostly radio silence about the status of talks since then.

Dymond has declined a number of requests to speak with CBC News in recent months. Stephenville Airport Corporation officials haven't granted interviews either.

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