Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport
IATA: YEG – ICAO: CYEG
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Transport Canada[1]
Operator		Edmonton Regional Airports Authority
Serves		Edmonton, Alberta
Location		Edmonton Capital Region, Alberta
Elevation AMSL		2,373 ft / 723 m
Coordinates		53°18′35″N 113°34′47″W / 53.30972°N 113.57972°W / 53.30972; -113.57972 (Edmonton International Airport)Coordinates: 53°18′35″N 113°34′47″W / 53.30972°N 113.57972°W / 53.30972; -113.57972 (Edmonton International Airport)
Website		www.flyeia.com
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
02/20	11,000	3,353	Asphalt
12/30	10,200	3,109	Asphalt
Statistics (2008)
Aircraft Movements			133,245
Number of Passengers			6,437,334
Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[2] Statistics from Transport Canada.[3] Passengers from Edmonton Airports.[4]

WestJet aircraft at Edmonton International Airport, as seen from the North Terminal

The check-in area of the South Terminal

Edmonton International Airport (IATA: YEG, ICAO: CYEG) is the primary air passenger and air cargo facility in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as a major hub facility for Northern Alberta and Northern Canada. It is Canada's largest airport (by total land area)^[5], 5th busiest airport by passenger traffic, and the 14th busiest by aircraft movements.^[3] Located 14 NM (26 km; 16 mi) south southwest^[2] of downtown Edmonton, in Leduc County, it served almost 6.5 million passengers in 2008.^[4] The Airport is operated by Edmonton Airports. The airport offers regularly scheduled nonstop flights to fifty-two communities in Canada, the United States, Latin America and Europe.

Airline Usage

The airport serves as WestJet's third largest market, as well as a focus city for Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz. Air North, Canadian North, and First Air operate significant northern networks out of the facility.

Edmonton International Airport offers US Border Pre-clearance facilities.^[6]

History

Transport Canada selected the current site for Edmonton International Airport and bought over 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) of land. When the airport opened in 1960,^[7] its first terminal was an arch hangar. Today, it is in use by L-3 Communications. 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 Federal government in 1963 for $18,000) "Bush Pilot in Northern Sky" by Jack Shadbolt, remains from this time period. An appraisal in 2005 indicated the mural was worth $750,000. A restoration of the mural was then undertaken in 2007.

During the 1970s, the airport experienced rapid passenger traffic growth as the city of Edmonton grew, serving approximately 2 million passengers by 1980.

From the early 1980s until 1995, traffic declined. This decline was attributed to the continued usage of Edmonton City Centre Airport, in addition to a slowing economy. Edmonton City Centre did not have the facilities to accept large aircraft, and airlines used City Centre to fly short-haul flights to hubs in other cities.

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 CAD$350 million "1998-2005 Redevelopment Project".^[8] This 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 2005, the expansion project was completed. Continued passenger growth triggered planning for another expansion.

In 2008, additional parking opened as a first phase of this second major expansion. Construction on this expansion continues to date.

Growth

In 2007, the airport surpassed passenger volume estimations for 2015. (see "Future Expansion" below)

Growth in Destinations:

Recently added destinations include the reintroduction of Maui, Houston-Intercontinental, and London-Heathrow, and the introduction of Mexico City. (see "Airlines and destinations" below)

Future expansion

A $1.1 billion expansion plan was approved in October 2007. The $1.1 billion airport expansion program will include:

• 13 new aircraft bridges
• New apron for aircraft parking
• Higher efficiency flow-thru deicing capability
• 85% increase in car parking inventory
• Redesigned and expanded food, beverage, and retail space
• Improved access from the City and surrounding communities
• Common Use airline facilities
• No increase in aircraft fees^[10]

Phase One - Construction of 253,000 m² (2,720,000 sq ft) apron expansion to accommodate the terminal expansion.(Completion-2010)

Phase Two - Construction of new terminal south of present terminal. (Completion-2010)

Phase Three - Construction of concourse linking the new terminal to the existing south terminal. (Completion-2012)

The airport is expected to handle 9 million passengers annually by 2012. ^[11][12] The expansion will increase the number of gates by 13. Common-use gates among other improvements have allowed the airport to accommodate up to 7.5 million passengers per year if necessary using the present building, helping to accommodate passenger growth before the expansion is complete.

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is planned adjacent to the North terminal.^[13] Financing is presently being sought.

Edmonton International will become an Airbus A380-compatible airport. Taxiway widening and other improvements are being undertaken.

On the cargo side, EIA is planning Port Alberta, a conceptual plan to create a multi-modal cargo hub at EIA. EIA plans to leverage its proximity to shipping and intermodal facilities in Prince Rupert and Chicago, as well as Edmonton's location on the CN rail line. Port Alberta will feature common space for the easy handling of three types of cargo - air, rail, and ground freight.

Passenger Amenities^[14]

• 17 passenger gates
• Fully accessible and barrier free (including dog runs for service dogs)
• Fully non-smoking facility
• Indoor observation deck featuring lounge chairs and workstations (publicly accessible)
• Self-serve check-in available
• Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge
• US Quick Connect
• United States Preclearance
• Chapel
• KidsWorld play area
• Arcade
• Medical Clinic
• 16 restaurants
• 13 shops
• Team of 80 Northern Lights Airport Volunteers
• Free use of Baggage Carts
• Full foreign exchange services
• Baggage day-storage services

US Quick Connect

Passengers from Domestic flights connecting in Edmonton to a US destination can access Quick Connect. This will save time as passengers will not have to reclaim their baggage and recheck them prior to connecting to the United States.

Airlines and destinations

Scheduled services

Charter services

A total of 52 different passenger destinations are offered non-stop from EIA.^[10]

Other operations

The following airlines operate out of private facilities:

Cargo

Awards

2009 Awards

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Awards:

• First Place: Marketing Campaign (Language of Speed)
• First Place: Brochures (EIA Airport Guide)
• First Place: Print Advertising, Black and White (Language of Speed)
• First Place: Video and Film (A Tale of Two Passengers) - [1]
• Second Place: Annual Report (2008 Annual Report: we’ll move you) - [2]
• Second Place: Creative Innovations: Technology (Air Service USB Key)
• Third Place: Customer Service Initiatives (US Quick Connect) ^[19]

2008 Awards

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Marketing and Communications:

• The Peggy G. Hereford Overall Award for Excellence
• First Place: 2007 Annual Report, A New Day
• First Place: YEG YES Marketing Campaign
• First Place: YEG YES – Print Advertising (colour)
• First Place: flyeia.com website
• Third Place: Press Kit^[20]

Past Awards

• White Cane Award^[21]
• Percy Wickman Accessibility Award - 2004^[21]

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Excellence in Concession Programs:

• Richard A. Griesbach Award of Excellence - 2005^[22]

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.

Operating conditions

Weather

The Edmonton International Airport enjoys ideal flying conditions year-round. 99% of the year is fog-free, and in the last ten years, the runways have been closed for a total of 3 hours (due to heavy snow conditions). An on-site 24 hour meteorological service provides weather observation and information to pilots, flight service station staff, air traffic controllers, and the general public.^[23] Summer highs can reach 35.5 °C (95.9 °F) on average, while winter lows can reach −48 °C (−54.4 °F), creating one of the widest temperature swings of a major airport in Canada. Humidity however, is typically low in all seasons. ^[24]

Size

Edmonton International Airport - The second largest airport in Canada as measured by land mass, comprising an area of over 7,000 acres (2,800 ha).^[23]

Elevation

2,373 ft (723 m) above sea level.^[2]

Other

EIA has a wide catchment range encompassing Central and Northern Alberta, northern British Columbia, and Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Total catchment area is 1.8 million residents.^[10]

Edmonton International Airport 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 traveling public.^{[25][26][27][28]}

References

External links

• EIA (Edmonton International Airport) homepage
• Fly Edmonton Campaign
• Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Places to Fly Airport Directory page about Edmonton International Airport
• Past three hours METARs, SPECI and current TAFs for Edmonton International Airport from NAV CANADA as available.