Gander

Gander is a small town of 12,000 people (2016) with a huge international airport 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.

By car
Gander is located on Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway). Gander is west of St. John's and  east of Port Aux Basques.

Airlines
Canadian airlines operating to Gander:
 * Operates daily flights to Gander from Halifax (1.75 hours).
 * Operates flights to Gander from Goose Bay (1.5 hours).
 * Operates flights to Gander from Goose Bay (1.5 hours).

Get around
Busy Bee Cabs 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.

Go next

 * Beothuk Interpretation Centre, Boyd's Cove ( north) recalls the now-extinct native tribe.
 * Terra Nova National Park is an hour east on the Trans-Canada Highway
 * Twillingate, Fogo Island and Change Islands are fishing villages with small museums
 * Lewisporte is the base for coastal ferry service to various small Labrador outports not on the Trans-Labrador Highway