New $2B international terminal at Calgary airport takes off
Features 24 gates and 5 levels spread over 2 million square feet
The vast new $2-billion expansion of the Calgary International Airport that opened Monday is "the most advanced airport terminal in Canada," its top officialsays.
The new international terminal has 24 gates and featuresNorth America's first "call-to-gate boardingsystem," which features central waiting areas where passengers can eat, relax or shop while being a five-minute walk away from their departure gate.
It also features enhanced Canada-U.S. customs technology, and a custom-designedpassenger shuttle service, says Calgary Airport Authority (YYC) CEO Garth Atkinson in a release.
The airport is expecting about 130 international flights to come through the new terminal on Monday. The firstflight out of the terminaldepartedto PuertoVallartaat 6 a.m.
Henry Stevens, YYC communications manager, says the public trials held prior to the official opening went well.
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"We had more than 2,000 Calgarians come out and play the role of passengers," Stevens told CBC News on Sunday.
"A lot of work has gone into the preparation, and we're ready, and we're looking forward to showing the terminal off," he added.
Still, Stevens says airport staff were busy in the hours before the new terminal opened, moving some security equipment, and openingthe route for the new "YYC Link" passenger shuttles.
And while everything is expected to run smoothly, he says it never hurts for passengers to build in a little wiggle room.
"A few more minutes is probably not a bad idea, in part, because it will give you time to enjoy the new facility as well as get through the processes."
Some flyers said there are still some kinks to be sorted out.
"[The] security system is flawed time-wise and there is no Tim Hortons inside security. Isn't this Canada?"Kit Grant wrote on CBC Calgary's Facebook pageafter his flight to Minneapolis.
Stevens said things went very smoothly on the first day, but that there will inevitablybe tweaks to make.
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The terminal spansabout twomillion square feet, spread over five levels, serving U.S. and international destinations.
"I think it's absolutely beautiful. I love the ceilings in it," saidJacqueline Wilson, who got to the airport a bit early Monday to check out the new facility before heading off to the Riviera Maya.
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With files from Kate Adach and Colleen Underwood
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