Its geographic position in the North Atlantic makes Newfoundland and Labrador a natural gateway between the Americas, Europe and the Arctic. Modern and extensive air, land and water transportation infrastructure make markets easily accessible, while its unique time zone allows business to be conducted across continents in a single day.
Newfoundland is located in a unique time zone in North America, facilitating business across continents in a single day. It is half an hour later than Atlantic Time, one and a half hours later than Eastern Standard Time and four and a half hours later than Pacific Standard Time. Newfoundland is also three and a half hours behind the United Kingdom. It is the only province in Canada with a split in the set variations of one hour between time zones. Most of Labrador operates on Atlantic time, except for a small portion which is on Newfoundland Standard time.
By Air
With five airports on the Newfoundland portion of the province and two airports in Labrador, the province accommodates international flights and customs services to commercial and military airliners and corporate jets, as well as industry support for air cargo and transshipment services.
Airport Information
Location IATA Code Runway length* St. John's YYT 8,500 Gander YQX 10,500 Deer Lake YDF 8,000** Goose Bay YYR 11,000 St. Anthony YAY 3,900 Stephenville YJT 10,000 Wabush YWK 6,000 *Length in feet of the longest runway available at the given airport, rounded down to the next full hundred feet.
** After 2010 expansionSource: Aircraft Charter World
Approximate Travel Times, by air, from St. John's
St. John's is uniquely positioned to provide travelers with a globally accessible point in relation to world markets.
- London: 5 hours
- New York: 4.5 hours
- Toronto: 3 hours
- Calgary: 8 hours
By Land
- There are over 9,500 km (5,903 miles) of primary and secondary highways and community access roads which connect rural areas with larger urban centres.
- Over 900 km of the province's roadways are part of the Trans-Canada Highway, a federal-provincial highway system that joins all ten provinces of Canada.
- Passenger bus service is available province-wide and within city and town centres.
By Sea
Ferry access between the island and the North American mainland is provided by Marine Atlantic - a vital marine transportation link across the Cabot Strait between the island of Newfoundland and mainland Canada. The company operates two ferry routes:
- A year-round ferry service of 96 nautical miles between Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador and North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
- A seasonal summer route of 280 nautical miles between Argentia, Newfoundland and Labrador and North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
The port of St. John's is the site of Newfoundland and Labrador's primary and most advanced container terminal and leading transportation hub. The port is home to the largest and most modern onshore/offshore energy supply base in Atlantic Canada.
Oceanex provides a wide range of intermodal services to Newfoundland from anywhere in North America. Its transport network includes customer support offices in key centres including Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, St. John's and Corner Brook. Oceanex continues to invest in bigger and better equipment to speed up container handling. In fact, its two new mobile harbour cranes in St. John's are the first of their kind in North America.
In recent years, Newfoundland and Labrador has become a popular port for some of the world's most recognizable cruise lines, including Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Newfoundland and Labrador is home to diverse geographical features, surrounded by clean air and the Atlantic Ocean Geography Quick Facts:
- Total Area: 405,720 km˛ (252,103 mi˛) - Larger than Germany or Japan
- Area of Newfoundland: 111,390 km˛ (69,215 mi˛)
- Area of Labrador: 294,330 km˛ (182,888 mi˛)
- Water Area: 34,030 km˛ (21.145 mi˛)
- Coastline: 17,542 km (10,900 mi) - Similar to Great Britain
Newfoundland and Labrador consists of the island of Newfoundland and the mainland portion of Labrador. In fact, the capital city, St. John’s, is at the same altitude as Seattle, Washington. The province is home to a variety of climates and weather. One of the main reasons for this diversity is the geography of the province.
Newfoundland’s climate can best be described as moderate and maritime. The island enjoys winters that are mild by Canadian standards, though with a high rate of precipitation. Summer days range from cool to hot with a normal temperature of 16º C (61º F) and highs reaching 30º C (86º F) or more. Winters on the island are usually mild with a normal temperature of 0º C (32º F).
Labrador, by comparison, has the cold winters and brief summers characteristic of the Canadian mid-North. Typical daytime temperatures for January range from -10º to -15º C (5-14º F), similar to the southern Prairies. July average temperatures range from 8-10º C (46-50º F) along the coast, but are a few degrees warmer in the interior. Extreme high temperatures are also not uncommon in the summer.
