Gander

Gander is a small town of 12,000 people (2016) with a huge international airport (YQX  IATA) on the Trans-Canada Highway in Central Newfoundland. Established in 1935, the airport was once a major refuelling point for almost all trans-Atlantic flights.

Understand

As the easternmost major fog-free airport on the north Atlantic coast, Gander was a frequent stop for both civil and military trans-Atlantic aviation. "Goose and Gander" were strategic transit points for the Royal Air Force Air Ferry Command during World War 2 and key refuelling stops for civil aviation in the early years of commercial "jet set" travel. Both airports have diminished in importance as range of commercial passenger aircraft increased to allow more routes to fly non-stop, advances in instrument navigation made a fog-shrouded landing in St. John's safe and routine, and de-escalation at the end of the Cold War curtailed military flights. On the other side of the Atlantic, Shannon in Ireland had a similar function (and still does for the LCY-NYC flights that are too heavy when taking off with a full tank) and became known as the birthplace of the Duty Free Shop at Airports.

There are various local memorials to aviators and servicemen, including Commonwealth War Graves for a hundred and one who served during the Second World War (Gander hosted air-reconnaissance planes, military defence forces and an anti-aircraft regiment) and a Silent Witnesses Memorial which overlooks a site where an Arrow Air flight carrying 256 peacekeepers of the 101st US Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles” home from the Sinai Peninsula crashed on take-off.

Gander accepted more diverted passengers during the September 11, 2001 attacks than any other Canadian airfield except Halifax and Vancouver and more aircraft than any city except Halifax, adding 6,600 people to its local population (in 2001) of 9650 in just a few hours. Lufthansa named one Airbus A340 "Gander/Halifax" to acknowledge both cities and a book The Day The World Came to Town recorded the incident for posterity. There was also musical called Come From Away which enjoyed successful runs both on Broadway and in London's West End, among other places.

Visitor information

  • 🌍 Tourist Information Centre, 109 Trans-Canada Hwy.

Get in

By car

Gander is located on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway). Gander is 330 km (210 mi) west of St. John's and 570 km (350 mi) east of Port Aux Basques.

By bus

Airport

Airlines

Canadian airlines operating to Gander:

Get around

Busy Bee Cabs (☏ +1 709 256-1444) and M&S Limousine Service (+1 709 256-8426) provide local transport.

Budget (+1 709 256-3566), National (+1 709 256-4934) and Thrifty (+1 709 256-8955) provide hire cars at the airport; there's also a Rent-a-Wreck (+1 709 256-7066) on the main highway.

See

  • 🌍 North Atlantic Aviation Museum, 135 Trans-Canada Highway, ☏ +1 709 256-2923. Summer: daily 9AM-7PM, rest of the year: M-F 9AM-5PM. The history of aviation in Gander, once an important refuelling stop on trans-Atlantic flights. Museum exhibits cover wartime operations during World War II and the town's role in hosting 6600 travellers when 38 civilian and 4 military flights diverted to Gander during the September 11th, 2001 attacks. Adult (19-60) $8, senior (61 +) or youth (6-18) $7, student – $7 (ID required), child (0-5) free.

Do

  • 🌍 Gander Golf Club, 251 Trans-Canada Highway, ☏ +1 709 256-4643. Golf club with pro shop and "19th hole" restaurant $50-55 (18 holes).
  • 🌍 Little Harbour, Gander Lake (1.5 km from Trans-Canada Highway and 10 km from city centre). Recreational park and marina, picnic/BBQ area, boat launch ramp and wharf/docking on fresh-water Gander Lake.
  • 🌍 Beyond Words Tours - A Come From Away Experience, 135 Trans Canada Highway, ☏ +1 709 256-2923, . A tour that complements the Come From Away Broadway show. The 3Β½-hour tour shows the places and people that became the inspirations for the show. It includes a visit to the Gander International Airport, Gander Town Hall, meeting a notable local that is featured in the Broadway show, driving around key areas of the town (including schools and community centres that housed the "plane people"), exclusive mini-exhibit and finishes at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum. $99/person.

Events

  • Festival of Flight. First Monday in August. Five-day local festival with sports, parade, live music, fireworks on Gander Day municipal holiday.

Buy

Eat

  • 🌍 Bistro on Roe, 110 Roe Ave, ☏ +1 709 651-4763, . M-Sa 5-10PM. French/European.
  • 🌍 Ches's Fish and Chips, 132 Bennett Dr (in the Fraser Mall), ☏ +1 709 651-CHES (2437). Small regional chain (seven locations, based in St. John's). Chicken, burgers, salads, fish and chips. $9-15.
  • 🌍 Country Kitchen, 132 Bennett Dr, ☏ +1 709 651-3200.
  • 🌍 Tai Sun Restaurant, 298 Airport Blvd, ☏ +1 709 651-2801. Terrible food, but the only game in town if you're hungry for Chinese.
  • 🌍 Weston’s at the Airport, 1000 James Blvd (in the Gander International Airport). 24/7. Home-cooked menu in a vintage cafeteria-style setting, ready-to-go meals, in-flight catering, and function room to host private events.

Drink

Sleep

Hotels

Bed & Breakfast

Caravan parks

Connect

Go next

Routes through Gander
Corner Brook ← Grand Falls-Windsor ← Jct N ←  W  E  β†’ Glovertown β†’ St. John's


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