Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Airport Expansion Approved

by Wayne Moore - Sept. 18, 2007 CASTANET

Kelowna City Council has given unanimous approval to a $45 million expansion of Kelowna International Airport. The series of improvements, including an extension of the runway to 8,900 feet, are expected to be finished by 2010. Five areas of the airport are slated for improvement including:
  • Improvements to ground access including the outbound double laning of Airport Way - $1 million.
  • Additional vehicle parking - $2 million
  • New Car Rental Terminal to the north of the current terminal - $2 million
  • Air Terminal Building improvements including a new international arrivals area - $20 million
  • Airside improvements including extension of the runway to 8,900 feet - $10.3 million.
Airport Manager, Roger Sellick, says the $45 million will be paid back by 2017. He says the loan will be paid back through the Airport Improvement Fund, and not taxation. Mayor Sharon Shepherd says a number of the items in the improvement plan have previously been brought before council for information purposes. "The Airport Manager had to wait until the carriers had seen the plan and agreed to it before the financial component could be attached to it," says Shepherd. She says with that in place, the expansion can now more forward. Sellick estimates passenger activity to increase to approximately 1.6 million by 2015 and nearly 3 million by 2025.

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