YYC runway rehabilitation project set to take off with federal funding

CALGARY — The west runway rehabilitation project at the Calgary International Airport will be moving ahead after the federal government announced funding for it on Friday.

Ottawa will be contributing $57.5 million to make the project a reality.

“Our west runway is a critical piece of YYC infrastructure. It plays a huge role in the significant contributions we make by way of connections, GDP and jobs to the economy,” said Bob Sartor, the president and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority (CAA).

Sartor says this project will ensure the airport will be able to meet the demands of passenger and cargo traffic over the next 40 years.

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“This investment reinforces our role as a vital hub well positioned to contribute to the economic growth of the region, especially as many plan for a safe and secure return to travel.”

The CAA says as restrictions eased, the Calgary International Airport saw a 17 per cent increase in cargo volumes at the end of June 2021 compared to last year, and domestic passenger volumes doubled for the same period.

According to the CAA, the west runway at YYC was constructed in 1939 and has since seen over 137,000 departures and arrivals in the year 2018 alone.

Work on the project will start next year and is expected to take two to three years to complete, creating 200 to 300 quality jobs in Alberta.