The Stephenville International Airport. Photo by Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentStephenville Mayor Bob Byrnes said there’s more of an air of optimism in the town now that the airport has been sold to BTG Critical Infrastructure Co-Invest LP I.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe company is linked to Calgary-based private equity firm BTG Capital which acquired the mortgage on the Stephenville Dymond International Airport in late 2025. In January, BTG Capital pushed the airport, which had been owned by Carl Dymond since August 2023, into receivership.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe court-approved sale was announced by BTG Capital on behalf of BTG Critical and the Stephenville International Airport Corp. on June. 16.Article contentThe receiver process was concluded in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador in St. John’s on June 21.Article content Stephenville Mayor Bob Byrnes CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentThe town was listed having a priority claim as a creditor in the receivership, and the court approved the town being paid $250,000 to cover some of the back property taxes owed by the airport.Article contentByrnes confirmed for The Telegram that money has already been received by the town.Article contentThe town was actually owed around $750,000 and Byrnes said it has an agreement with BTG for the repayment of the remaining $500,000.Article content“We worked out an arrangement with them because, of course, any business opening up now we want to give them a bit of a break. So, over the next five years we’ll recoup the rest of the money.”Article contentHe said the town wants to help them out as much as it can.Article content“We recognize that with the opening of the airport there’s going to be a lot of new business that will come into town. Plus, the traffic that will be generated by this operation will all benefit the town and other businesses in the town.Article contentArticle content“So, it’s a win-win situation for us,” said Byrnes.Article content“So, we recognize that and we want to help these guys. These guys are sincere about what they’re going to do. We know that they’ve got money to back the place up and it’s like an investment for us and our community.”Article contentWAS SKEPTICAL OF DYMOND’S PLANSArticle contentByrnes said it’s a different feeling than when Dymond was involved.Article content“Right from day one with the other gentleman, I will call him, who came to town, from day one everybody I talked to was telling us it was a scam.”Article contentByrnes once sat on the board of the former Stephenville Airport Corporation and was skeptical of what Dymond had been saying about his plans for the airportArticle content“I’m not stupid and I’ve got a bit of common sense. You just don’t start telling people you’re going to start building drones. You’ve got to have engineering done. You have to have all kinds of research and work done on this. There was none of that. This guy was a nobody.”Article contentByrnes said former mayor Tom Rose was totally irresponsible for allowing the sale of the airport to Dymond to go through.
Stephenville mayor sees clearer skies ahead for town’s airport
