Fredericton airport gets green light for $30M-expansion to ease crowding

After operating above capacity for almost a decade, the Fredericton International Airport has secured money for a $30-million projectexpansion.

The project announced Tuesday morning will increase the size of the airport building by half, the airport said.

More ticketcounters, a larger kitchen, renovated washrooms, a children's play area, more seating and more energy-efficient geothermal heating will be among the changes made duringthe 30-month construction.

Kate O'Rourke, airport spokesperson, said the waiting areas have been too crowded, especiallywith "sun destination" travellers, in the last few years.

Since the airport has acquired more carriers, temporary counters have been "shoe-horned in," she said.

Clogged waiting areas

But with the expansion, she said, the airport will avoidcrowding in ticketing and waiting areas, and the baggage areawill be reorganized so travellers won't have to switch directions to drop their bags then go through security.

The provincial and federal governments areeach contributing $9 million, and the Fredericton International Airport Authority Inc. will pay the rest.

The authority said previously that its share of the funding was secured, and it was waiting for federal and provincial commitments.

"This is a project that is well needed and we want to be the ambassador for our capital city and our province," said Johanne Gallant CEO and president of the airport authority.

"We want to step up our game."

Construction, which will employ more than 500 people, will begin mid-summer and continue for 30 months.

Gallant said the airport will continue to serve travellers during construction, which is why the project will take so long.

The expansion will give theairport building more natural light and better flow through the ticketing area.

"We're going to be running as usual with a bit more dust and a little bit more going around corners, so thank you in advance for your patience short-term pain, long-term gain," she said.

Speaking at the announcement in the airport's arrivals terminal were Premier Brian Gallant and MP Matt DeCourcey. The federalmoney is coming from the New Building Canada Fund.

The Fredericton airport previously didn't qualify for federal funding because of its size, but in July 2017, the government announced it would make $2 billion available for small airports. The Saint John Airport was also helped by that announcement.

DeCourcey said the biggest hurdle for making the fundavailable was to make the case the airport is important.

"It became a process of working to convince levels of government that not only should it be eligible for financing but it was a key piece of economic infrastructure that needed to grow," he said.

In 2018, Porter Airlines became the third airline to fly from Fredericton to multiple destinations.

In 2017, the airport saw 397,741 passengers travelling through the terminal, and passenger growth had beensteadily increasing by about five per cent year over year for eight years.

Johanne Gallant said there are nospecific plans to add more carriers, but it is a possibility.