Saskatoon airport receives $1.7 million for key upgrades

While the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt in the airline sector, the Saskatoon John. G. Diefenbaker International Airport isn’t slowing down expansion plans.

On Monday, the airport received more than $1.7 million in new federal funding to complete renovations on a new baggage claim area and apron expansion to accommodate larger airplanes.

Andrew Leeming of the Saskatoon Airport Authority said the projects will improve the airport on two fronts: Additional space for airplanes to manoeuvre and park will increase the airport’s cargo capacity, while the passenger experience will be improved with a new larger baggage claim area.

“That provides increased circulation for passengers trying to find their bags but also if they need to physical distance from each other,” said Leeming.

“At the same time, we’ve added new technology in the new reclaim area. Having that system on what we call campus IT provides a much more fluid interaction with the passenger and ensures if there are any hiccups in that operation, we have a local IT team able to support.”

Leeming said the upgrades would be completed in time for the new international flights taking off and landing at the airport this fall.

Starting Nov. 10, WestJet is to resume twice-weekly flights to Las Vegas. Once-a-week flights to Orlando are to begin Dec. 16.

The funding is in addition to the $10.9 million provided under the program in August 2021 for the rehabilitation of the primary runway and apron pavement surfaces, the installation of new LED runway edge lights, and the replacement of select storm drains.