Drive to 1.6 Million Passengers Development Program

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) passenger activity is forecast to grow to 1.6 million passengers by 2015.

To accommodate this growth the airport is putting in place a phased approach where construction will be triggered by passenger traffic demand. “If by 2011 we are ahead of schedule and passenger numbers are closer to 1.6 million then we expect we will move on these projects at a faster rate,” explains Sam Samaddar, Airport Director. “However if passenger numbers start to level out something like we are seeing this year, these projects will be completed as planned over the next five to six years. By having a phased approach to the construction we can trigger each component of the project based on actual passenger demand.”

Since 2004 passenger numbers at YLW have increased by 55 per cent. In 2009 passenger numbers are slightly behind 2008’s record breaking year by 3.4 per cent however April, June and July 2009 were slightly ahead of their respective months in 2008.

The Drive to 1.6 Million program includes an interim customs facility which will be constructed this fall while elements such as the runway overlay, relocating and upgrading utilities, upgrade to the outbound baggage system, improvements to the Highway 97 intersection, Apron 1 expansion and large aircraft taxiway, the new International Arrivals Concourse and renovation to the existing arrivals area will take place between 2011 and 2016.

The order of magnitude cost estimated for these projects is budgeted at $50.5M and will be paid for through the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). The AIF at Kelowna International is currently $10 per departing passenger. The AIF is not expected to increase for the next couple of years. As elements of the program are completed the AIF is expected to increase to $12 in 2011 and to $15 per enplaned passenger effective January 1, 2013. Despite the increase, Kelowna Airport will continue to have one of the lowest AIF rates among Canadian airports.

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