Fredericton Airport Ready For Takeoff After Terminal Expansion, Renovations
FREDERICTON- With some flights set to resume again this summer, the Fredericton International Airport (YFC) is ready to give passengers a good first impression.
The airport has wrapped up a much anticipated terminal expansion and renovations, something that the community and airport were working towards for about a decade
“The previous terminal was intended to handle 200,000 passengers a year,” said Kate O’Rourke, manager of public relations and marketing for Fredericton’s airport. “With some creativity and some flexibility we were able to make it work, but we saw in 2019 well over 400,000 passengers a year so it was really time to expand and bring in some of the modern amenities that travellers expect now.”
A rare feat in large construction projects, the team finished ahead of time and about half a million dollars under budget.
“That’s really thanks to Bird Construction and Kyle Mathers, who is the project manager,” said O’Rourke. “They really worked hard to take advantage of the silver lining.”
When Covid-19 emptied the airport of passengers, construction workers could come into work while still staying safe and adhering to all the protocols.
“Most of the people and companies we had working on site were from New Brunswick,” she said. “That definitely helped us because we didn’t need to worry about bringing people in from other jurisdictions and quarantines and so on and so forth.”
In addition to the extra space, the airport also put a focus on traveller amenities. A Fredericton favourite, the Chess Piece Patisserie and Cafe, will now offer their coffee and sandwiches to customers once they’ve cleared security. A children’s play area, updated washrooms and nursing rooms are a few of the other things to look forward to.
“Just a more comfortable, more spacious feeling throughout the whole terminal,” said O’Rourke.
O’Rourke said that before, the airport didn’t reflect the vibrant and progressive nature of the capital city of New Brunswick. Now it does, she says.
“We know that the airport’s going to be a pillar of the economic recovery,” she said. “People need to get back to business.”
O’Rourke said many businesses in Fredericton like cybersecurity and engineering consulting companies rely on travel. They need to go to their clients and bring their clients back to them.
“This is going to be huge for them to have this facility here,” she said. “It’s going to be a first and last impression that actually matches our region.”
Right now, flights are suspended at the YFC, but they are looking to change that in the next few months. The airport is having conversations with airlines like Porter, who intend on coming back to Fredericton. Sunwing flights are planning to return in winter 2022.
Both Air Canada and West Jet have announced they will be bringing back service this summer.
“What we know right now is that Air Canada is planning to resume service June 1 and WestJet is planning to resume June 26,” said O’Rourke