Edmonton International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Edmonton International Airport


image-width = 200
IATA = YEG
ICAO = CYEG
type = Public
owner = Transport Canada [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/Airports/Status/menu.htm Airport Divestiture Status Report] ]
operator = Edmonton Regional Airports Authority
city-served = Edmonton, Alberta
location = Edmonton Capital Region, Alberta
elevation-f = 2,373
elevation-m = 723
coordinates = coord|53|18|35|N|113|34|47|W|type:airport
website = [http://www.flyeia.com/ www.flyeia.com]
r1-number = 02/20
r1-length-f = 11,000
r1-length-m = 3,353
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 12/30
r2-length-f = 10,200
r2-length-m = 3,109
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year = 2007
stat1-header = Aircraft Movements
stat1-data = 130,704
stat2-header = Number of Passengers
stat2-data = 6,065,117
footnotes = Sources: Canada Flight SupplementCFS]
Statistics from Transport Canada. [http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/EN/Report/TP577/pdf/TP577_07.pdf Aircraft Movement Statistics: NAV CANADA Towers and Flight Service Stations: Annual Report 2007] ]
Passengers from Edmonton Airports. [http://corporate.edmontonairports.com/news_media/facts_statistics/passenger_statistics/passenger_stats_2008_to_2001 Passenger Stats 2008 to 2001 - Edmonton International Airport] ]

Edmonton International Airport Airport codes|YEG|CYEG is the primary air passenger and air cargo facility in Edmonton, Alberta as well as a major hub facility for Northern Alberta and Northern Canada. The airport is experiencing the fastest rate of growth in passenger traffic of any major airport in the nation. [http://corporate.edmontonairports.com/news/230 Edmonton International leads Canadian airports in passenger growth] ] It is Canada's 5th busiest airport by passenger traffic and the 13 busiest by aircraft movements. Located convert|14|NM|abbr=on|lk=in south southwest of downtown Edmonton, it served almost 6.1 million passengers in 2007 and is operated by the Edmonton Airports Authority. It is WestJet's third busiest hub, as well as a focus city for Air Canada Jazz.

Edmonton International Airport is located within the Edmonton Capital Region, close to the towns of Devon and Beaumont, the city of Leduc, and adjacent to the Nisku industrial park. It is immediately west of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, south of Highway 19, and convert|1.6|km|abbr=on north of Highway 39. Within this immediate radius of the terminal there are many full-service hotels and offsite parking lots complete with terminal shuttle service to offer a full range of services to the travelling public.

Edmonton International Airport is one of eight Canadian airports that has US Border Pre-clearance facilities, where travellers clear US Customs at the airport prior to boarding flights bound for any airport in the United States.

History

While the Edmonton Industrial Airport (later Edmonton Municipal Airport, and now Edmonton City Centre Airport) was originally the main airport for Edmonton and area, it was becoming apparent by the mid-1950s that the downtown airport would not be able to handle jet aircraft, which would have required much longer runways and a larger terminal building. Thus, Transport Canada selected the current site for Edmonton International Airport and bought over convert|7000|acre|abbr=on of land.

Originally constructed and opened in 1960, the airport's first terminal was an arch hangar still used by L-3 Communications and Spar Aviation. In 1963, the current original terminal was opened, still used to this day as the North Terminal. An original artwork, fired by Alberta Natural Gas, adorned the departures area exterior. During the 1970s, the airport underwent rapid passenger traffic growth as the city of Edmonton grew, and was serving over 2 million passengers by 1980.

As Edmonton City Centre Airport was still being used as an airport mainly for short-haul flights within Alberta and British Columbia, the international airport's passenger traffic actually declined from the early 1980s until 1995, as nonstop flights became less available. Over concerns about aircraft noise from Edmonton City Centre Airport and declining airline service from Edmonton arising from the two-airport system, over 77% voted in a referendum in 1995 to shift most airline passenger service over to the international airport. This created a jump in passenger traffic at the international airport and triggered an immediate need to expand it.

The international airport underwent a $350 million CAD "1998-2005 Redevelopment Project" [ [http://corporate.edmontonairports.com/expansion_redevelopment/air_terminal_project_2005_-_1998 Air Terminal Project (1998-2005)] ] of renovation and expansion, including the construction of a new south terminal, a multi-level parking facility, central hall connecting the north and south terminals, commuter facility and a doubling of the apron. This redevelopment project expanded the passenger capacity for the Airport to a maximum of 7.5 million passengers per year.

After this project was completed, incredible passenger growth quickly triggered planning for another, significantly larger expansion. This expansion is referred to as the $1.1 billion expansion, and the first phase (parking) opened in 2008 with final completion planned for 2012.

On August 18, 2008, the Edmonton International Airport opened 1,000 new parkade stalls as part of the $1.1 billion expansion. “We are committed to moving customers quickly and efficiently through the airport,” said Reg Milley, President and CEO, Edmonton International Airport. “Even prior to this expansion, EIA offered travellers the most airport parking spaces per capita in Canada; these additional spaces will help us to offer even better customer service.” []

Growth

Edmonton International Airport's passenger traffic has grown tremendously in recent years. With the significant economic and population growth of Edmonton and area, Edmonton International Airport has consistently been at or near the top of the annual list of Canada's fastest growing major airports in terms of passenger traffic, with traffic increasing by 5% in 2004, 11% in 2005, and 16% in each of 2006 and 2007.

When opened in 1960, the Edmonton International Airport had been built to accommodate 2.5 million passengers a year. The previously mentioned expansion program was intended to allow for 5.5 million by 2015. With total growth in passenger traffic just shy of 50% in the 3 years ending 2007, the airport has already surpassed the passenger volume predicted for 2015. (see "Future Expansion" below)

Common-use gates among other "behind-the-scenes" improvements have allowed the airport to accommodate up to 7.5 million passengers per year if necessary using the present (north & south) terminals, helping to accommodate the phenomenal passenger growth comfortably before the expansion is complete. Additional food services in the terminal and 1,000 additional parking stalls also opened in 2008.

The growth in passenger traffic at the Edmonton International Airport has attracted new airlines and destinations as well as steadily increasing destinations and frequency from existing service providers. Since 2004, full time or seasonal nonstop flights to destinations that include Chicago, Halifax, Kelowna, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Montego Bay, Cancun, Punta Cana, London-Heathrow and Mexico City have been added. Also of note, frequencies on almost all trans-border (US) routes have increased in response to high demand. (see "Airlines and destinations" below)

Future Expansion

A $1.1 billion expansion plan has recently been approved for the airport as of October, 2007. Phase One of this revised expansion plan will involve a convert|253000|m2|abbr=on square metre apron expansion to accommodate the south terminal expansion, beginning in 2008. Phase Two involves a large hammerhead-shaped south terminal extension with 13 new gates, boosting the number of gates at the airport to 30 from the current 17. Both of the first two phases are expected to be complete in 2010. Phase Three will see a new concourse linking the "hammerhead" terminal to the existing south terminal, and this is expected to be complete by 2012. The airport is growing faster than originally predicted and is now expected to handle 9 million passengers by 2012, up from the 7.5 million passengers originally predicted for that same year. [ [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=08685215-6914-4f63-a7e3-b84deda3abf0 Billion-dollar expansion set to take off at International] ] [http://corporate.edmontonairports.com/expansion_redevelopment 2007 - 2012 Expansion Project] ]

$1B Airport expansion program will include:

* Airside-centric expansion.
* 13 new aircraft bridges.
* New apron for aircraft parking.
* Efficient flow-thru de-icing capability.
* Common Use throughout facility.
* 85% increase in car parking inventory.
* No increase in aircraft fees.
* Redesigned and expanded Food, Beverage and retail.
* Improved access from the City and surrounding communities. [http://corporate.flyeia.com/nonimages/2/291.pdf]

The parkade is currently undergoing an expansion to include an additional 1,000 stalls. Apron expansion to the north and setting up of new deicing pads are underway as well. The airport in its current state was built to comfortably accommodate 5.5 million passengers per year, and up to about 7 million passengers at the most if necessary. This figure of 5.5 million was originally projected for 2015 at the time of construction of the south terminal in 1998-2000. However, this figure has already been exceeded.

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is in the preliminary phase of construction. It will be accessible from, and is to be built adjacent to, the North (original) terminal. [ [http://corporate.edmontonairports.com/news/69 Agreement inked to build 184-room hotel at Edmonton International Airport] ] , and although construction of it has been delayed, construction of the hotel is now expected to begin in 2008. Additionally, the ERAA (Edmonton Regional Airports Authority) has decided that Edmonton must become an Airbus A380-compatible airport if it wants to see service from the growing Asia-Pacific and mid-Eastern markets. Negotiations are underway to bring YEG's taxiways up to the minimum required width for the super-jumbo. There are also hopes of turning Edmonton into an international freight hub given its proximity to numerous intermodal facilities, carriers showing interest in this idea are Global Supply Systems, Jade Cargo International and Shanghai Airlines Cargo.Fact|date=September 2007

Airlines and Destinations

North Terminal

* Air Transat (Cancún, Frankfurt [seasonal] , London-Gatwick, Kahului [begins December 23] , Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Varadero) [all seasonal]
* Central Mountain Air (Calgary, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, High Level, Rainbow Lake)
* Mexicana de Aviación (Mexico City)
* Skyservice (Acapulco, Bahias de Huatulco, Cancún, Cozumel, La Romana, Liberia, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Montego Bay, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Samana, Varadero) [all seasonal]
* Sunwing Airlines (Toronto, Cancún, Bahias de Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta, Varadero) [all seasonal]
* WestJet (Abbotsford, Calgary, Cancún [seasonal; begins November 5] , Comox, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Halifax [seasonal] , Hamilton, Kelowna, Las Vegas, Los Angeles [seasonal; begins November 3] , Mazatlan [seasonal] , Montréal [seasonal] , Ottawa [seasonal] , Palm Springs [seasonal] , Phoenix [seasonal] , Puerto Vallarta [seasonal; begins November 2] , Regina, San Jose del Cabo [seasonal] , Saskatoon, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg)

South Terminal

* Air Canada (Calgary, Cancún [seasonal] , Halifax [seasonal] , Las Vegas, London-Heathrow, Montego Bay [seasonal] , Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto-Pearson, Vancouver)
** Air Canada Jazz (Calgary, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Los Angeles, Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Yellowknife)
* Air North (Calgary, Whitehorse)
* Alaska Airlines
** Horizon Air (Seattle/Tacoma)
*Canadian North (Calgary, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Yellowknife) [ [http://www.canadiannorth.com/pdfs/flight_schedule_JULY22-2008.pdf Canadian North flight schedule] ]
* Delta Air Lines
** Delta Connection operated by SkyWest Airlines (Salt Lake City)
*First Air (Yellowknife) [ [http://www.firstair.ca/weather/index.html First Air interactive weather/route map] ]
* Northwestern Air (Calgary, Fort Smith, Peace River, Red Deer, Yellowknife)
* Northwest Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
* United Airlines
** United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, San Francisco)
** United Express operated by Shuttle America (Chicago-O'Hare, Denver)
* US Airways (Las Vegas, Phoenix)

Other Operations

The following airlines operate out of their own private facilities:
*Alta Flights
*Integra Air (Lethbridge, Fort McMurray)
*Kenn Borek Air
*North Cariboo Air
*Regional 1
*Sunwest Aviation
*Corporate Express (Calgary, Dawson Creek)

"A total of 52 different destinations are offered non-stop from EIA." [ http://corporate.flyeia.com/nonimages/2/291.pdf]

Awards

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Marketing and Communications

* 2008 - The Peggy G. Hereford Award (highest honour) [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]
* 2008 - First Place: 2007 Annual Report, A New Day [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]
* 2008 - First Place: YEG YES Marketing Campaign [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]
* 2008 - First Place: YEG YES – Print Advertising (colour) [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]
* 2008 - First Place: flyeia.com website < www.flyeia.com> [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]
* 2008 - Third Place: Brand Launch Press Kit [http://www.aci-na.org/news/2008_aug8]

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Concession Programs

*2005 - Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence [http://corporate.flyeia.com/news_media%2Fnews_releases%2Farchive?view=83]

Air Traffic Control

The Edmonton International Airport is the Western Area Regional Control Centre for NAV Canada.

The Edmonton International Airport's Control Tower is responsible for all aircraft movements over Southern (Calgary region), Central, and Northern Alberta, as well as the high Arctic and the majority of Northern Canada.

Cargo

* Antonov Airlines
* BAX Global
* Cargojet Airways
* Canadian North Cargo
* DHL Worldwide Express
* FedEx Express
**Morningstar Air Express
* Purolator Courier
**Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter
* United Parcel Service (UPS)
* Volga-Dnepr
* Gemini Air Cargo
* Atlas Air
* Northern Thunderbird Air (Canada Post)
* SkyLink Aviation
* Westcan International

Past Airlines

* Air Canada Tango
* All Nippon Airways
* American Airlines
* America West Airlines
* Canada 3000
* Canadian Airlines
* Canadian Pacific Airlines
* CanJet
* Continental Airlines
* Greyhound Air
* Hughes Airwest
* Jetsgo
* LOT Polish Airlines
* LTU
* Lufthansa
* Martinair
* Pacific Western Airlines
* Peace Air
* QuikAir
* Royal Airlines
* Wardair
* Zip
* Zoom Airlines

Operating Conditions

Weather

The Edmonton International Airport enjoys ideal flying conditions year-round. 99% of the year is fog-free, and in the last ten years, the runways have been closed for a total of 3 hours (due to heavy snow conditions).

An on-site 24 hour meteorological service provides weather observation and information to pilots, flight service station staff, air traffic controllers, and the general public.

Size

Edmonton International Airport - The second largest airport in Canada as measured by land mass, comprising an area of over 7,000 acres. [http://edmonton.airporthotelguide.com/airportinfo.html]

Elevation

723 metres (2372 feet) above sea level.

Other

Canada's most northerly 24 hour international airport, EIA has a wide catchment range encompassing Central and Northern Alberta, Northern British Columbia, and Yukon & Northwest Territories. Total Catchment area is 1.8 million residents. [http://corporate.flyeia.com/nonimages/2/291.pdf]

Flight Enticement

Edmonton International operates a new route incentive program. The Edmonton Airports marketing team, in cooperation with Edmonton community stakeholders, will work jointly to support thelaunch and development of new non stop Edmonton air services. Financial support and concessions are available in the following areas:

Edmonton Airports Financial Marketing Support

*Year 1 up to $250K
*Year 2 up to $100K
*Year 3 up to $50K

Airport Fees

"All airport charges to be generated from the new non-stop scheduled air service including landing, terminal, aircraft parking and bridge fees will be waived for the following periods:"

*Year 1 up to 100% of fees
*Year 2 up to 50% of fees
*Year 3 up to 25% of fees

This plan will give the airport a competitive advantage and is similar to initiatives launched in the United States received with widespread media coverage. [http://corporate.flyeia.com/nonimages/2/291.pdf]

References

External links

* [http://www.flyeia.com EIA (Edmonton International Airport) homepage]
* [http://www.flyedmonton.com Fly Edmonton Campaign]
* [http://www.copanational.org/PlacesToFly/airport_view.php?pr_id=2&ap_id=202 Canadian Owners and Pilots Association "Places to Fly" Airport Directory page about Edmonton International Airport]
*