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3 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,N ovem ber 19,2020 w aterloochronicle.ca • Consolidate your debt • Finance Home Renovations • Access Funds for Special Projects *OAC, Some Restrictions Apply Access to multiple lenders at NO COST to you* Kevin Williams,BA Mortgage Agent - South Western Ontario 519-800-4373 kwilliams@mortgagealliance.com giveyourdreamsachance.ca Corporate: 200-2005 Sheppard Ave. E.,Toronto,ON M2J 5B4 | Lic# 10530 LET THE EQUITY IN YOUR HOME WORK FOR YOU! Sebastian Msuya and the team at Sundance Bal- loons were gearing up for a busy summer season when the COVID-19 pan- demic threw cold water on their hot air adventures. "When COVID hit, it was a bit of a shock," said Msuya, the company's op- erations manager. "We were uncertain as to whether we'd be able to op- erate at all this year." In March, they were readying their hot air bal- loons and hiring pilots for a May season launch of passenger flights. By April, they were closed, with ticket sales suspend- ed. "We were worried," Msuya admits. Without much else to do, employees began mak- ing face shields where they'd normally be manu- facturing or repairing bal- loons; hundreds of shields were donated across Can- ada. As restrictions gradu- ally eased, they were al- lowed to reopen their pas- senger business, and set July 1 as a launch date. But a big question remained: would anyone want to go for a flight? Founded 35 years ago and based in London, Sun- dance Balloons flies out of nine Canadian cities in- cluding Kitchener and Ot- tawa. Kitchener is a key market, thanks to its prox- imity to the Greater To- ronto Area. In a typical year, Sun- dance operates two to three balloons from Kitch- ener, offering two flights a day, seven days a week (weather permitting) in a season that runs through October. Not knowing what to expect for their be- lated 2020 launch, the com- pany reduced its overall operating capacity by 50 per cent, Msuya said. "We had our fingers crossed." Sundance began taking reservations again in mid- June ahead of the July start, offering a flexible cancellation policy; they were full all summer long. "We attribute this to people wanting something to do this summer," Msuya said. With travel restrictions keeping most people close to home, that bucket list balloon flight suddenly became a staycation op- tion. Balloons typically car- ry 12 passengers and a pi- lot. Sundance provided face masks to people if they hadn't brought their own, set up sanitizer sta- tions and conducted pre- flight health screenings. The company also in- stalled clear vinyl parti- tions between a balloon basket's five compart- ments, and in the passen- ger vans that pick people up after landing. "We just thought it could be an added level of safety and reassurance to the public," Msuya said. One casualty was the tra- ditional champagne toast that usually marked the end of a flight. "We were very happy with the way the season turned out," said Msuya. Although flights have ended for this year, Christ- mas is one of Sundance's strongest sales periods as people purchase gift cer- tificates. Msuya said he's hopeful they'll be able to launch next year at their regular time in May. "Realistically speaking, I do think COVID will be around next spring," he said. "But we have a lot more confidence in the passen- gers looking for a fun ex- perience and showing up." BALLOON COMPANY RISES ABOVE COVID-19 TURBULENCE BRENT DAVIS bdavis@therecord.com Sundance Balloons feared a lost season due to COVID-19, but launched in July with safety protocols in place BUSINESS PANDEMIC THREATENED TO THROW COLD WATER ON ITS HOT AIR ADVENTURES Sundance Balloons Photo