A $2.1 million expansion which has increased the size of the Charlottetown Airport by one-third and added a second incoming baggage handling system was officially opened today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA); the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island; and Cliff Campbell, Chairman of the Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc.
The opening coincided with the inaugural flight of the Island’s newest airline. Delta Air Lines passengers on a non-stop flight from Boston were the first to enter the new facilities.
“Canada’s New Government continues to work in partnership to get things done for the people of Prince Edward Island,” said Minister MacKay. “Thanks to a joint investment of more than $2.1 million this newly expanded airport is poised to draw record numbers of visitors to the province which will directly benefit residents, as well as the Island economy.”
The airport expansion was funded through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) with each of the three contributing partners, the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island and the Charlottetown Airport Authority contributing $711,926.
“Strengthening the competitive position of the Charlottetown Airport Authority will help attract increased air traffic to our province,” said Premier Ghiz. “The Island has been marketed and promoted as a quality air travel destination and we have seen increased service from more airlines flying to more destinations, linking Prince Edward Island to the world. This initiative will ensure the continued economic and community development of Prince Edward Island.”
Over the past six months, renovations added more than 11,000 square-feet of new floor space to the air terminal building which serves as an off-loading area and a passenger greeting section. The entrance area and washroom facilities have been expanded. A second incoming baggage handling belt enables the airport to better handle the arrival of simultaneous flights.
“We are always working on ways to attract new flights and more passengers to the Island and having this beautiful expanded facility will certainly help us in that endeavour,” said Cliff Campbell, Chairman of Charlottetown Airport Authority Inc. “We appreciate the support of our government partners who helped us realize our goal of expanding the facility in an effort to grow air service for Island residents and visitors alike.”
The expansion was necessary to accommodate current and future requirements of air traffic at the Charlottetown Airport. In 2006, there were more than 225,000 passengers who traveled through the airport, a significant increase from 158,746 passengers in 2002.
For more information about federal and provincial infrastructure initiatives that benefit the communities of Prince Edward Island, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.
BACKGROUND:
The Charlottetown Airport Authority (CAA) was incorporated in 1996 under the Canada Corporations Act as a not-for-profit corporation. That same year, the CAA signed an agreement with the Government of Canada to transfer control of the Charlottetown Airport to the Authority. With this transfer, the CAA became responsible for operating costs, human resource costs, engineering, architectural, property management, legal costs as well as the capital funds required to meet the needs for future years.