Summer 2018 News

New Airport Marketing Campaign Will Inform and Educate Frequent Air Travellers

We all know that the majority of Canadian airports are self-funded, with revenues generated by users. We get that that they are operated by highly qualified teams of professionals whose actions are directed by a board consisting of local business and community leaders and reflect community aspirations.

Except, we don't. A Nanos Research poll undertaken last fall by CAC showed a significant gap in Canadians' views of how airports are managed and by whom, with only 10 percent of respondents who correctly identified the fact that airports are operated by local not-for-profit corporations.

Does it matter? We think it does. The research implies that 90 percent of Canadians may not grasp the fact that the airports' decisions are based on community needs, not the government's. That means they don't understand that they have a direct stake in influencing government decisions that affect their wellbeing. We hope to change that and help them see that they do.
This winter, the CAC will launch a new targeted campaign aimed at frequent air travellers - people who travel six times a year or more - explaining how airports are governed, why it matters to them personally, and how they can help ensure that that airports are supported at the federal level.  

Starting this project with frequent air travellers makes good sense: they are aviation-savvy, relying on access, frequencies, routes and smooth operations to support their business activities. They are plugged in and are relatively easy to identify, reach and track over time. And, as an added bonus, the group we need to influence - parliamentarians - are themselves frequent travellers, so this campaign will reach them directly as well.

The project is directed by a committee of members who are marketing experts and know their customers and the airport environment well. A multi-year campaign, we expect it to evolve over time, as we move forward to increase awareness and change attitudes.

More information will be forthcoming in the fall.  In the meanwhile, have a safe and happy summer! 

Daniel-Robert Gooch, President
Toronto Pearson Welcomes 10.4M Passengers This Summer

 
Canada's largest airport is welcoming over ten million passengers between Canada Day and Labour Day, an increase of more than 30% compared to the same period five years ago. The summer rush is predicted to bring with it an average of 155,000 passengers per day, climbing even further skyward on high-volume days. Toronto Pearson and its partners-air carriers, Canadian customs, CATSA and more-have taken steps to prepare for this massive influx of passengers and offer tips to help make travel easier.
 
"This summer, Toronto Pearson is once again preparing to welcome a growing number of travellers from around the world to Toronto and the region, reflecting the desirability of Canada as a tourism destination for millions of annual visitors," said Hillary Marshall, Vice President Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "We understand how important it is to work with our carriers and government partners to ensure that we have the appropriate resources in place to help more than 10 million travellers flow efficiently through our airport, providing more visitors to local attractions, customers to local businesses and jobs for area residents."
Fridays are typically the busiest travel days of the summer and Toronto Pearson projects that the four Fridays in the month of August will bring the highest daily passenger volumes:
 
  • August 24             166,900
  • August 17             166,800
  • August 10             166,500
  • August 3               166,000
 
Toronto Pearson places a high priority on ensuring an efficient and enjoyable airport experience for travellers, and as such continues to make significant investments in services and processes. Baggage infrastructure in both terminals has been enhanced, adding additional capacity for airline baggage handlers to load and unload bags, as well as 24/7 IT support to monitor over 25 kilometers of belts, automated pushers and other machinery. Additional CATSA Plus lines have been installed in Terminal 3, speeding the efficiency of passenger security screening. The CATSA Plus program will be rolled out to all airport checkpoints over the next two years. Toronto Pearson is also offering additional support for passengers with cognitive special needs through the MagnusCards smartphone app. MagnusCards helps to ensure that users can navigate the airport more easily through step-by-step instructional card decks.

Airport Trail Expansion: Approved Funding Will Provide Greater Access to YYC

A critical Calgary airport and industrial access road across the city's northeast is moving ahead.

The governments of Canada, Alberta  and  Calgary, along with the Calgary Airport Authority, have committed to fund the completion of Calgary's Airport Trail between 36 Street NE and 60 Street NE. Once complete, Airport Trail will create a second, critically needed east-west transportation corridor in north Calgary, improving passenger and cargo access to the airport, and better routes across Calgary's growing northeast industrial-commercial area.

The government of Alberta's nearly $28-million grant to the city of Calgary is part of ongoing investments in projects across the province to help strengthen Alberta's economy and create well-paying jobs.

"An expanded Airport Trail will connect major railways, interprovincial and highways into the United States, and the airport. That means Alberta's products will have even greater access to more markets, people who work in this area will get home faster to their families, and air  travellers  will have quicker and easier access to their flights." Brian Mason, minister of Transportation.

Provincial support for this project follows just one day after Premier Notley announced the government of Alberta is moving forward with construction of the final west segment of the Calgary Ring Road.

"The completion of Airport Trail is a critical piece of Calgary's transportation network and fully realizes the value of the Airport Trail Tunnel - a new east-west connection between Stoney Trail and Deerfoot Trail in a city that needs more east-west connections. With this one project, we are making it easier for people and goods to get to Calgary International Airport and strengthening the transportation and logistics sector of our economy. It's a project I've been passionate about since before I was elected in 2010, and it's incredibly special to be joining with the other orders of government today to see it happen."
Naheed Nenshi, mayor, city of Calgary

"Enhancing access to the airport is great news for Calgarians and guests to our city, but also for the businesses and partners that are strategically located on airport property and contribute to the economic development of Calgary. The approval of the Airport Trail interchanges will allow for the better movement of people and goods to and from YYC, furthering the development of airport lands and benefiting our greater community."
Bob Sartor, president  and  CEO, Calgary Airport Authority

Quick facts: 
  • The expansion of Airport Trail involves  construction  of:
    • A new segment of Airport Trail between 36 Street NE and 60 Street NE, with an intersection at Métis Trail.
    • The first stage of interchanges along Airport Trail at 19 Street NE and Barlow Trail. 
    • A new southbound-to-westbound ramp at the interchange of Stoney Trail and Airport Trail.
       
  • The road will enhance transportation between the Calgary International Airport, the Alberta provincial highway system, northeast Calgary, and the CN intermodal yard and industrial park east of the Calgary International Airport in Rocky View County.
     
  • When complete, Airport Trail will provide direct access between Stoney Trail (the Calgary Ring Road) and Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2), two of the most important transportation corridors in the Calgary region.
     
  • Expansion of Airport Trail will be covered in part by a $27.7 million Government of Alberta grant and additional support of $50 million from the federal National Trade Corridor Fund.
     
  • Construction, which will support about 400 jobs, is expected to begin in 2018 and be complete in spring 2022.
     
  • Phase 1 of Airport Trail opened May  2014,  and includes a six-lane,  620-metre  tunnel and the widening of Airport Trail from four to six lanes between Barlow Trail and Deerfoot Trail.
     
  • The Calgary International Airport and area is the second largest employment  centre  in Calgary, outside the downtown core, with 24,000 jobs on airport land and nearly 50,000 full-time jobs directly related in the region.
YVR to Enhance Airport Experience with 75 Major Multi-Year Expansion Projects 

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) broke ground on a number of capital construction projects to enhance the airport experience and improve YVR's competitive position as a world-class connecting hub. The projects are part of YVR's multi-year expansion plans that will see the airport complete 75 major projects, totaling $9.1 billion over the next 20 years.

Vancouver Airport Authority President and CEO Craig Richmond was joined by British Columbia Premier John Horgan; Ken Hardie, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood-Port Kells; and Fiona Famulak, President of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association to celebrate the groundbreaking of YVR's construction projects. They include building one of the largest GeoExchange systems in Canada, significant terminal expansions, new parking options and improved vehicle rental facilities.

YVR is one of the fastest-growing airports in North America. It welcomed a record 24.2 million passengers in 2017 and is forecasting 32 million passengers by 2022. About 327,000 tonnes of cargo are expected to move through the airport by 2020. These newest construction projects will improve the speed with which people and goods move through YVR, and provide passengers with a wide range of compelling offerings and amenities.

YVR plays a significant role in the local, provincial and national economy-creating jobs and driving business activity. The airport supports 24,000 jobs on Sea Island and more than 100,000 jobs across British Columbia. YVR's operations-together with tourism and cargo-contribute more than $16 billion in total economic output, $8.4 billion in GDP and $1.4 billion in government revenue across British Columbia. Each new flight through YVR creates hundreds of jobs and contributes millions of dollars in economic benefit to the province.

The expansion projects will have significant economic and employment benefits in the region. By the end of 2018, construction activities at YVR will create nearly 2,500 full-time construction jobs on Sea Island and hundreds more off-site. Much of the work will be done in the province, offering a significant number of jobs for British Columbians.

YVR's multi-year expansion plans are made possible by YVR's unique, not-for-profit operating model. YVR receives no government funding and all profits generated at YVR are reinvested back into the airport for the benefit of its customers, partners and communities.
WAA Breaks Ground on $27M GSE Building

Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) has broken ground on a 96,000 square foot Ground Services Equipment (GSE) Building.

The $27 million multi-use building will give ground handling, commissary and cargo companies operating space close to the terminal. Once completed, current tenants in the cargo campus will relocate to the new GSE Building, freeing up much-needed space in the cargo area for redevelopment.

"WAA continues to redevelop our airport to meet the needs of travellers, airlines and tenants," said Barry Rempel, President and CEO of WAA. "Today's announcement begins another stage of development for the airport campus, allowing us to make better use of our space to serve current tenants, attract new tenants and to continue to create jobs and drive the economy."

Rempel added, "The world is more and more connected every day, and for Winnipeg to fulfill its potential on the global stage we must have the infrastructure in place to compete. Today's investment is another step in realizing the vision of Winnipeg as an airport city."

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport has a $3.4 billion economic impact and supports over 17,000 jobs. It is also the number one airport in Canada for dedicated freighter flights, keeping goods flowing efficiently and building on Winnipeg's reputation as a transportation and logistics hub.

Once completed, the GSE Building will offer tenants secure access to airside operations at the airport. Some of the equipment housed in the new space will include 'tugs', which are vehicles used for towing and repositioning airplanes, belt loaders, which load cargo and baggage, and refrigeration trucks, which load food in planes.

North Star:  Calgary Airport Authority Unveils New Strategic Direction and Evolved Brand 

Calgary Airport Authority unveiled its new strategic direction and guiding vision statement, aptly referred to as the North Star. The Authority's new direction will focus on elevating guest experiences with the goal of driving economic growth and prosperity for Calgary and Alberta. To embody this new direction, a refreshed visual identity for YYC Calgary International Airport was also unveiled.


North Star vision statement: We create effortless and memorable airport experiences that reflect Calgary's legendary hospitality and our region's natural beauty. 

"We are thrilled about the promise of our North Star and the positive impact this will have on our guests for many years to come," said Bob Sartor, President and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority. "By placing our guests at the heart of everything we do, creating an experience that is reflective of the city and region we serve, and by providing the best value to our airline partners, we will be a key economic engine well into the future."

Inspired by the things that make Calgary and southern Alberta unique, The Calgary Airport Authority is creating a plan for the airport that truly reflects the city and region, and encouraging visitors to return. A new approach to retail and service offerings at YYC; improvements to processes within the airport; enhancements to the domestic terminal; and leveraging the entire campus development plan with the appropriate mix of businesses will all be factored into fueling Calgary's economic prosperity. 

With an increased focus on enhancing the experience, The Calgary Airport Authority's new Vice-President of Marketing and Guest Experience, Michael Hayward added, "We're focusing on authentic western hospitality as we improve the experience for YYC guests; at the same time our upcoming domestic terminal improvements and enhanced visual identity will reflect the beauty of the city and province."

Improvements in the domestic terminal have already begun, and the new identity system is on display in the domestic check-in areas, soon to expand to the improvements underway in domestic arrivals.
Canada's airports are collaborative world leaders in safe, high-quality, economically prosperous air transport. For more information on the economic impact of Canada's airports, visit cacairports.ca. 
 

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