06 NOTABLE EVENTS AND MAJOR PROJECTS
Resilience and planning pay off
Notable events
— Setting a strong foundation and a solid strategy allows YYC to navigate unforeseen events, and to forge ahead with strength and resilience. Events during 2024 showed the value of the work done throughout the year—the team was able to pull together and set a favoured course of action, that in most cases, allowed us to begin rebuilding something better.
Summer storm
A catastrophic hailstorm on Monday, Aug. 5 shattered windshields and shredded siding on homes across northern Calgary. Intense rain and driving hail damaged buildings around the airport campus and the roof of the terminal building, causing extensive water damage inside.
As water poured in, Team YYC swung into action. The B gates and a handful of C gates were closed and all guests and staff were directed to safe locations. We collaborated with our airline partners to accommodate the requested flight schedule by redistributing flights to alternative gates, increasing gate utilization and turnover efficiency.
The day after the storm, White Hat Volunteers were out in force, answering travellers’ questions and providing up-to- date information. As it became clear that Concourse B would remain closed for approximately 24 months, we worked with business partners to mitigate impacts to their operations.
Thanks to the quick actions of staff, no one was injured in the course of the storm. The damage was extensive, but we emerged stronger and with proof of Team YYC’s resilience.
Concourse B is expected to reopen in the summer of 2026.
Lynx Air ceases operations
Lynx Air ceased operations in late February. We were sorry to see Lynx Air go. They were our fourth-largest air partner and, more importantly, a collaborative and valued member of our airport community.
CAPA Airline Leader Summit—Americas
In May, YYC hosted the CAPA Airline Leader Summit— Americas. The two-day event brought together 215 aviation professionals from 30 airlines and 15 countries to provide insight into our region’s importance to the global aviation sector and examine key trends shaping the future of the industry.
CEO Chris Dinsdale and Chief Real Estate Officer Rob Bachart shared their insights and expertise with summit attendees.
Hosting was particularly gratifying for The Authority as two months earlier, we won Best Overall Route Development and Best Airline Marketing by an Airport at the Routes Americas Awards.
Major projects
— Our new corporate strategy, enablers and vision are crafted with future growth and sustainability in mind. We know that our role as a driver of the regional economy means we are going to see more travellers at our doors and gates. In 2024, work continued on major projects while others advanced through the planning stage in anticipation of YYC’s future growth.
Centralized passenger screening
This project will significantly improve the guest experience as well as operational efficiency for our airline partners.
In 2024, we concluded stakeholder engagement and finalized construction planning. Construction began in January 2025, and the project will transform the Domestic Terminal Building as we prepare for a projected 40% increase in passenger flow within 10 years.
Currently, the three pre-board screening points in the domestic terminal building account for 10 lanes and can handle 900–1,250 passengers per hour. In the first phase of the project, those points will be replaced by a centralized screening area, and capacity will grow to 1,800–1,980 passengers per hour. The future build-out will allow for 13 CATSA Plus screening lanes and an hourly capacity of 2,600– 2,860 passengers.
The new centralized screening layout is designed with everyone in mind, creating a calmer and more accessible experience.
West Runway rehabilitation
YYC’s West Runway is undergoing a full-depth structural and electrical overhaul to enhance operational safety and efficiency and ensure the airport will meet the demands of passenger and cargo traffic over the next 40 years.
Construction kicked off in April and wrapped up for the season in mid-December. Along the way, there were spring snowstorms, water restrictions and a summer hailstorm. There was a great deal of progress—in the course of nine months, some 300 workers completed phases one to four of the project.
The first year of this project was completed on time and on budget. Work will resume in spring 2025 and we anticipate that runway construction will be complete by the end of 2025.
The year at YBW Springbank
YBW Springbank is a cornerstone of Alberta’s thriving aviation landscape. It is the province’s second-busiest airport and the eighth-busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements.
As demand for air travel continues to increase, YBW’s critical role as a regional hub for aircraft and helicopter flight training grows in importance and contributes to the industry’s future workforce.
During forest fire season, Springbank Airport is an operations base for Alberta’s Provincial Wildfire response teams, supporting fire response to surrounding areas, including Bragg Creek, Banff and Kananaskis.
Upgrades and additions
The team at Springbank upgraded its snow removal fleet with the arrival of the first of two Øveraasen RS200 plow and sweeper units, ensuring YBW remains well-equipped for operations during the winter season.
In line with sustainability initiatives, existing incandescent edge lighting along Runway 08-26 and incandescent lighting on the Combined Services Building were replaced with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
In 2024, engineering and design work was completed to prepare for the future connection of the water reservoir to the Harmony Water Treatment Facility, ensuring a sustainable supply of potable water to the airport.
Runway 08-26
In 2024, engineering and design work for YBW’s Runway 08-26 restoration began, with plans for a complete pavement overlay to enhance durability and performance. Additionally, engineering and design work was completed to upgrade taxiways Charlie and Delta with LED lighting.
