City Council Gives All Clear For Airport Renovation Take Off

An improved passenger experience and upgraded water service are set to move ahead at the Lethbridge Airport as City Council approved funding for phase 1 of the detailed design and renovation today.

Approving the amended capital budget will see updates including an expansion to the current boarding area to accommodate new bathrooms and an upgrade to the existing bathrooms. Something Mayor Chris Spearman believes will vastly improve the passenger experience.

"Our passenger traffic has been continuing to rise for the past 18 months with the addition of bigger aircrafts and additional carriers, and so we want to build on that momentum," says Spearman. "Investing in the airport means we are investing in our ability to grow our economic potential and be a leader in our region."

Several economic opportunities were identified along with renovation recommendations as part of a recently received report from consultants, Modalis Infrastructure Partners. The international transport infrastructure firm presented their findings to the Community Issues Committee earlier in February. Key amongst those findings was improving the passenger experience says Michael Kelly, Real Estate and Land Development Manager.

 "We want to position the airport as a more convenient option and gateway for travel to residents in our city and in our region," says Kelly. "The opportunities for future development and renovating this facility as a major economic driver for southern Alberta are exciting and we're thrilled to be moving forward on these improvements."

Renovations and water service upgrades are scheduled to start in the summer this year and are estimated to cost roughly $7.5 million.