The weekly service is slated to begin June 21 using a Cargojet 727-200 freighter serviced by EXP-AIR. Cargojet operates Boeing 767-200, 757-200 and 727-200 freighters.

The seafood previously had been trucked from the Atlantic Coast of Canada to the U.S. before making the airfreight voyage overseas. It will now be trucked to Fredericton and flown to Toronto, remaining in Canada the entire time.

Leslie Gavin, the airport's director of marketing and business development, said the new service will cut about 15 hours of trucking time out of the equation. "Plus, they avoid any border issues," she added.

"This activity fits in perfectly with the economic trade strategy of the Canadian and New Brunswick governments to increase trade with Europe and Asia," David Innes, YFC's president and CEO, said in a statement. "This is truly a Canadian operation.”

For now, only one client is involved in the new route, but Gavin said a number of shippers have been in touch with EXP-AIR about the service. If everything goes well, EXP-AIR could possibly generate more activity in the future, leading to a cargo boost for this passenger-centric airport.

"We'll let it grow organically," Gavin said, "and see what happens."