Edmonton International Airport (IATA: YEG, ICAO: CYEG) is the primary air passenger and air cargo facility in the Edmonton region of the Canadian province of Alberta. The airport offers scheduled non-stop flights to major cities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe.
It is a hub facility for Northern Alberta and Northern Canada. It is Canada's largest major airport by total land area, the 5th busiest airport by passenger traffic and 9th busiest by aircraft movements. Operated by Edmonton Airports and located 26 kilometres (16 mi) south southwest of downtown Edmonton in Leduc County on highway 2 opposite of the city of Leduc. It served 7,523,864 passengers in 2016.
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History
Transport Canada selected the current site for Edmonton International Airport and purchased over 7,000 acres (28 km2) of land. When the airport opened on November 15, 1960, its first terminal was an arch hangar. Today, it is in use by Canadian North. In 1963, a passenger terminal, built in the international style, was opened. It remains in use as the North Terminal. Artwork, fired by Alberta Natural Gas, adorned the departures area exterior. A large mural, commissioned by the Canadian government in 1963 for CAD$18,000 titled "Bush Pilot in Northern Sky" by Jack Shadbolt, remains to this day. An appraisal in 2005 indicated that the mural was worth $750,000, and a restoration of the mural was undertaken in 2007.
During the 1970s, the airport experienced a rapid growth in traffic as the city of Edmonton grew, and served approximately 2 million passengers by 1980. However, from the early 1980s until 1995, traffic declined. This decline was attributed to the continued usage of Edmonton City Centre Airport as well as to a slowing economy. Edmonton City Centre did not have the facilities to accept large wide bodied long haul aircraft, thus airlines used City Centre to fly short-haul flights to hubs in other cities where connections to many locations were available.
Growth returned in 1995. In a municipal plebiscite in that year, 77% of voting Edmontonians voted to consolidate all scheduled jet passenger service at Edmonton International Airport.
In 1998, the airport underwent a $282 million "1998-2005 Redevelopment Project". The three-phase project included the construction of a south terminal and central hall concept, a commuter facility, doubling of the apron, and a multi-storey parkade. This redevelopment project expanded the passenger capacity to 5.5 million.
By the time the expansion project was completed in 2005, continued passenger growth triggered planning for another expansion. A new 107,000-square-foot control and office tower was added in 2009.
Further expansion was completed in 2013. Expansions have increased terminal capacity, improved the passenger experience through introduction of travelators, lounges, and retail, increased the number of gates available for aircraft and improved apron capacity among other improvements. Functional highlights include seven new passenger gates, 14 boarding bridges, six new elevators and moving walkways, over 100 security doors, and advanced baggage handling and scanning systems. Incremental improvements like improving de-icing capacity and implementing common use systems for airlines were also delivered. The Renaissance Hotel and the iconic snow-drift inspired control and office tower are recent major additions to the airport landscape.
In 2016, the Edmonton International Airport expected to begin twinning Highway 19, a project expected to be completed by 2018. The realignment of the highway will allow for the airport to finalize engineering and begin construction on the airport's third runway - runway 11/29. Runway 11/29, upon completion, is planned to be 3,530 m (11,580 ft) long. In August 2016, the Government of Alberta announced $90 million in funding to begin twinning Highway 19 and that it has protected the area needed for the third runway. Edmonton International Airport also plans to extend the existing Runway 12/30 by one-third its current length from 3,100 m (10,200 ft) to 4,030 m (13,220 ft) to increase accessibility and capacity tied to Port Alberta Developments/Intercontinental routes.
Airline service
EIA is one of WestJet's largest focus cities: the airline flies to 30 destinations with up to 73 daily departures, nonstop, from Edmonton. WestJet is the largest carrier at Edmonton International Airport, holding more than 50% of the market share.
Canadian North and First Air connect their northern networks through Edmonton.
Historical international airline service
The airport had international service to Europe soon after it opened. In 1960, Canadian Pacific Airlines (which would become CP Air) was operating nonstop flights to Amsterdam with Bristol Britannia turboprop aircraft several times a week. By 1961, Canadian Pacific had introduced Douglas DC-8 jetliners on its nonstop service to Amsterdam. In 1962, Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA, which would become Air Canada) was operating direct flights to London Heathrow Airport once a week via a stop in Winnipeg and also direct flights to Paris Orly Airport three times a week via stops in Toronto and Montreal with Douglas DC-8 jets being used on both services. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Pacific Western Airlines operated Boeing 707 charter flights from the airport to the UK and other destinations in Europe. Transair (Canada) also operated international charter flights with Boeing 707 jetliners from the airport. In 1970, Air Canada was operating nonstop Douglas DC-8 service to London Heathrow twice a week while CP Air was flying nonstop DC-8 service to Amsterdam three times a week. CP Air then introduced Boeing 747 jumbo jet service nonstop to Amsterdam with two flights a week being operated in 1976 and by 1978 was also flying nonstop and direct one stop (via Calgary) Boeing 747 service to Honolulu twice a week. Air Canada had also begun daily nonstop Boeing 727-200 service to both Los Angeles and San Francisco by 1979. In 1983, both airlines were operating wide body jetliners on their respective services to Europe with Air Canada flying Lockheed L-1011 TriStar long range series 500 model aircraft three days a week nonstop to London Heathrow while CP Air was flying Boeing 747 jumbo jets three days a week nonstop to Amsterdam. Wardair Canada also operated scheduled and charter flights to Europe as well as charter service to Hawaii from the airport and in 1979 was operating nonstop charter service to London Gatwick Airport and Prestwick in the UK as well as to Amsterdam and Frankfurt. In 1989, Wardair Canada was operating scheduled nonstop service to London Gatwick and Manchester in the UK and was also operating nonstop charter service at this same time to Frankfurt and Honolulu. Wide body jetliners operated by Wardair Canada included the Airbus A300, Airbus A310, Boeing 747 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30.
Several US-based air carriers served the airport over the years as well. According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), in 1975 Northwest Airlines was operating nonstop Boeing 727-100 jet service to both Anchorage and Minneapolis/St. Paul while Western Airlines was operating Boeing 727-200 and Boeing 737-200 jets direct to Denver, Salt Lake City and Great Falls (with all of these flights first stopping in Calgary) with Hughes Airwest serving the airport as well with Douglas DC-9-10 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets on nonstop flights to Spokane as well as direct flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. By 1980, Hughes Airwest was operating five daily departures from Edmonton with Boeing 727-200 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jetliners with direct, no change of plane service via an intermediate stop in Calgary to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Burbank, Reno, Boise, Spokane and Palm Springs. In 1981, Western Airlines was operating a daily nonstop Boeing 727-200 flight to Denver with continuing direct service to Phoenix and Los Angeles while Republic Airlines (1979-1986), which had acquired Hughes Airwest, was flying daily nonstop Douglas DC-9-10 service to Las Vegas and Spokane. By 1982, Republic Airlines was operating all of its flights to the U.S. from Edmonton via an intermediate stop in Calgary with direct, no change of plane McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 service to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Spokane and Palm Springs. United Airlines was operating a daily Boeing 727-100 nonstop flight to San Francisco with direct one stop service to Los Angeles in 1983. Western Airlines was operating Boeing 727-200 nonstops to Salt Lake City in 1987 with its daily flights providing direct service to Los Angeles.
In 1999, Canadian Airlines International, which had formerly operated as CP Air, was flying daily nonstop Boeing 737-200 service to Chicago O'Hare Airport while Air BC, operating as Air Canada Connector via a code sharing agreement with Air Canada, was flying nonstop British Aerospace BAe 146-200 jet service twice a day to Denver. Also in 1999, Horizon Air was operating code sharing flights on behalf of Alaska Airlines nonstop to Seattle with Fokker F28 Fellowship jets twice daily while Northwest Airlines was flying three daily McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 nonstops to Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Fort McMurray evacuation
The Edmonton International Airport played a major role during the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire, operating as hubs for aerial firefighting and Medevac. The Airport also became a way-station and temporary shelter for thousands of Fort McMurray evacuees. The Emergency Operations Centre in the airport ran for 112 hours, organizing the arrival and departure of hundreds of aircraft -- the longest in the EIA's history.
During the month of May, the airport saw more than 300 additional daily flights on top of their regularly scheduled service. The airport normally handled some 400 aircraft per day, but the evacuation caused airport officials to handle more than 700 aircraft daily. According to the airport's operational manager, most aircraft were "wingtip to wingtip." This caused delays to regular airline service by 10 to 20 minutes, and overall waiting times to increase by 10-15 minutes.
Facilities
Passenger Facilities
EIA offers US Border Pre-clearance facilities. Passengers from domestic flights connecting in Edmonton to a US destination use EIA's Quick Connect, which relieves passengers from having to claim and recheck baggage during the connection, and the passenger just has to clear security and US Customs and Border Protection before proceeding to their departure gate.
The four-star Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel is attached to the terminal.
Airline Lounges
EIA offers an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and two Plaza Premium lounges.
Aircraft Facilities
EIA can handle aircraft designated as Code F by the ICAO (the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380), and has been approved by airline as a diversion airport for the A380. They can be accommodated at gates 78, 80, 82 or 84 in the US departures area if the adjacent gates are not in use. Such a diversion has happened at least twice thus far.
Air-cargo Facilities
In January 2015, Edmonton-based trucking company Roseneau Transport, unveiled its plan to open a new 210,000 square feet (20,000 m2) distribution centre and warehouse at the airport in November 2015. The facility, custom-built by Panattoni Development Company, will be a hub between the company's ground cargo and its new venture of air freight and will give Western Canadian shippers the ability to send cargo to Edmonton that can be put on a plane to any destination within 24-hours. The facility was completed by November 2016 and officially opened on December 6, 2016.
On Septemver 7th 2017, the Alberta Motor Transit Association officially broke ground on a new trucker training facility in the Northeast section of the airport. The 20,000 square feet (1,900 m2) facility will be the first of its kind in Western Canada. It will include a 2 hectares (4.9 acres) test track, as well as a driving simulator.
On June 22, 2016, Aeroterm broke ground on a new 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) multi-use distribution facility. Upon completion in 2017, the facility's major tenants include Gate Gourmet, Airport Terminal Services (ATS) and Swissport. Three identical facilities, each 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) in area, have also been approved for construction and will be parallel to Aeroterm's facility.
In 2015, the Airport began planning for and designing a much larger project on the future of 900 hectares (2,200 acres) of land south west of the main terminal. In 2017, Myron Keehn, the airport's vice-president of commercial development, stated that the southwest site will be primarliy for large-format cargo, distribution and logistics buildings, "including warehouses that are at least 55,000 square metres (590,000 sq ft) to 90,000 square metres (970,000 sq ft) in size."
Additional air cargo expansion at the airport includes:
- Cargojet upgauged its existing Edmonton service from a Boeing 757-F to a wide-body Boeing 767-300, increasing both payload and volume for businesses to ship more, heavier, larger goods.
- DHL Express launched a new commercial wide-body route to Edmonton that arrives earlier and leaves later, providing regional business with increased access to express shipping.
- Braden-Bury Expediting (BBE) is now located in the same building as Canada Border Services Agency; with 40,000 square feet of warehouse space and convenient access to customs processing, which will help expedite the flow of goods to and from the Edmonton region.
- EIA has expanded Cargo Apron Seven to accommodate two additional code F aircraft (the largest variant). Additional operating and storage areas have been incorporated, including aircraft nose tethers.
- EIA upgraded its ground handling equipment with a new, 2014 Commander 60 main deck loader, eight 20-foot dollies and a 20-foot drive-over scale; the airport can, and regularly does, handle the world's largest cargo aircraft - The Antonov An-225 & Boeing 747-8
Air Ambulance Services
The airport is home to a purpose built facility on its southern edge that is shared by Alberta Health Services fixed-wing air ambulance operations, as well as one of three bases in the province for STARS helicopter air ambulance.
Emergency and policing
Edmonton International Airport Emergency Response Services provides fire services from one station with five tenders/pumpers and additional assistance from the Leduc County Fire Services with an additional pumper on site.
Policing is provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Airport Detachment.
Day to Day security is provided by Garda.
Regional air traffic control
The Edmonton Area Control Centre (ICAO: CZEG) operated by Nav Canada is located at the airport. It is responsible for all aircraft movements over Alberta (including Calgary) and most of northern Canada, including the high Arctic.
Airline Operational Facilities
Northern carrier Canadian North maintains its operations facilities at EIA.
Market
EIA has a catchment area encompassing Central and Northern Alberta, northern British Columbia, and Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Total catchment area is 1.8 million residents.
EIA 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 1.6 km (0.99 mi) 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.
Business passenger traffic is generated by a regional banking and financial cluster and major pension and wealth fund managers, provincial government operations, oilfield service businesses, a major Canadian research university (the University of Alberta), petrochemical, biotechnology, and real estate operations located in Edmonton and area.
Outbound leisure passenger traffic is driven by high average disposable income in Edmonton. Inbound leisure passenger traffic is driven by major tourist destinations in Edmonton such as West Edmonton Mall, the Edmonton Fringe Festival and nearby Jasper National Park.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Edmonton International Airport provides scheduled non-stop flights to 52 destinations. It serves as the hub for domestic carrier Flair Airlines.
- ^1 : This flight makes a stop between Edmonton and the listed destination. However, the airline does not transport passengers between Edmonton and intermediate stop.
Cargo
In addition, Air Bridge Cargo, Korean Air Cargo, Etihad Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo and Volga Dneper fly multiple charters to Edmonton year round.
Other
The following airlines operate out of private facilities:
- Alta Flights
- Nolinor Aviation
- North Cariboo Air
- Northern Thunderbird Air
- Sunwest Aviation
Statistics
Top destinations
Annual traffic
Access
Public transit
Edmonton Transit System (ETS) provides express service between the Edmonton International Airport and the Century Park LRT Station, facilitating connections to the region's wider transit system. Route 747 runs between 4:10 a.m. and midnight every 30 minutes most times of the day. A one-way fare is C$5.00.
Leduc Transit's Route 3 provides service between the airport and the city of Leduc.
Airport shuttle
The SkyShuttle services the airport and selected stops in the city of Edmonton typically adjacent to major hotels. This service must be pre-booked by phone or online. The fare for this route is C$18.00 one way per adult as of 2012.
Automobile
The airport is located adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth II Highway south of Edmonton.
Ground transportation to other cities
- Jasper National Park - coach service is offered daily.
- Calgary - coach service is offered twice daily.
- Red Deer - coach service is offered twice daily.
- Cold Lake - connector bus is offered five times weekly.
- Bonnyville - connector bus is offered five times weekly.
- Smoky Lake - connector bus is offered five times weekly.
Operating conditions
Weather
The weather station has been recording since 1961, at an elevation of 723 metres (2,372 ft) at 53°19?N 113°35?W. The Airport sees 77 days with rainfall, and 53 days with snowfall; in total the airport averages 446.1 millimetres (17.56 in) of precipitation per year. Daily average temperatures for the year are 2.6 °C (36.7 °F), and vary from 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) in July to -12.1 °C (10.2 °F) in January. Daily maximums are 22.8 °C (73.0 °F) in July, and -6.3 °C (20.7 °F) in January. The wind is predominantly from the South, with an average speed of 12.2 kilometres per hour (7.6 mph). 3.2 days are at or above 30.0 °C (86.0 °F), and 10.1 are at or below -30.0 °C (-22.0 °F) per year. Humidity stays steady through the year, from 79.3% at 06:00, to 56.3% at 15:00. 61.2 hours a year have visibility less than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi), and 8133.1 hours with more than 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) visibility. The airport receives 2310.1 hours of sunshine annually.
Extremes
Extremes for the airport are; A record high of 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) on August 18, 2008, and record low of -48.3 °C (-54.9 °F) on January 26, 1972. The highest humidex reading was 38.7 on August 2, 1965, and the lowest wind chill at -61.0 °C (-77.8 °F) on January 26, 1972. The maximum hourly speed record is 87 kilometres per hour (54 mph) on October 1, 1965, and the strongest gust was 146 kilometres per hour (91 mph) on the same day.
Appearances in media
On October 5, 2016, the History Channel began airing a new series that revolves around the Edmonton International Airport, Airport: Below Zero. The show follows the airport's day-to-day operations and how the staff are able to keep the airport running smoothly, even during the extreme winter weather.
Accidents and incidents
- On 2 January 1973, a Boeing 707-321C CF-PWZ of Pacific Western Airlines. A cargo flight of 86 cattle from Toronto, Ontario with five crew-members on board, was on approach to runway 30, visibility was poor with blowing snow, and turbulence. It struck the ground 3,137 metres (3,431 yd) short of runway 30. Hitting trees, power-lines and a gravel ridge then erupted into fire. All five of the crew-members were killed in the crash including all cattle. The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. No investigation was done so the crash cause is still unidentified.
- On 6 November 2014, a Bombardier DHC-8-402 C-GGBF of Air Canada Express. A passenger flight from Calgary to Grande Prairie with 71 passengers and three crew-members, During take off the third tire of the main landing gear burst. This caused a loud bang noise inside the plane. Head winds prevented landing back in Calgary, so it was diverted to Edmonton International Airport. During the landing the right main landing gear collapsed. The propellers on the right side of plane struck the ground and broke, one of the blades went through the cabin wall injuring three passengers.
Commercial non-aviation operations
Premium Outlet Collection
In May 2015, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new premium outlet mall by developer Ivanhoe Cambridge, which is to be located at the Edmonton International Airport. In early 2016, Ivanhoe Cambridge announced that Simon Property Group would partner with them in the construction, development and leasing of the mall, officially named Premium Outlet Collection - Edmonton International Airport. Construction officially began in Spring 2016 on the more than 580,000 sq ft (54,000 m2) shopping mall. The mall will feature over 100 outlet stores, with many of them making their Canadian debut. As of April 2017, Premium Outlet Collection - EIA is expected to be completed by May 2018.
Office and hotel park
Adjacent to the Edmonton Premium Outlets will be office buildings and hotels, located on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway at Airport Road.
In 2016, Aurora Sky began building the world's largest and most advanced marijuana production facility in the world. The facility, which is expected to be completed by 2018, will be over 75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft) in area and produce more than 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) of cannabis annually.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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