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Construction continues at Calgary International Airport (CYYC), with a massive $2.2 billion airport development program (ADP) consisting of a new international passenger terminal and a new parallel runway. Both parts of the ADP are on time and on budget. In addition to these mega-developments, other construction projects are underway on the airfield. Airside property at CYYC has been scarce for years, and the land development department has been busily identifying every possible location that could be developed.
The newest development is the Deerfoot North Global Aviation Logistics Park. Located in the northwest corner of the airfield, the park has excellent access to major highways and the terminal. The first building has opened, with several more to be completed this year.
Phase one of a new airport-owned air freight terminal opened in March 2013, with a 95 per cent occupancy rate. The 50,000-square-metre (164,042-square-foot) building houses six freight bays, office space, and an aircraft class F (A380, B747-800) ramp, with a parking area suitable for two wide-body and two narrow-body airliner-sized freighters. The ramp features in-ground high speed refueling stands and close access to the de-icing pad and runways. A key tenant is the Canada Border Services Agency, with its freight screening and clearance capability. Cargojet has one of the bays, and other tenants will be moving in as final interior work is completed.
Other airside access at Deerfoot Park is limited to four lots facing the terminal on the west side of runway 16. Three are being developed for occupancy this year.
Sunwest Aviation’s new business aviation centre, with a total developed area of 15 acres, is the largest project in the park. It is also the largest private hangar ever built at Calgary International. Sunwest is currently located in several hangars at the southwest corner of the airfield, but moving to the new complex will allow the company to consolidate aircraft and services in one location. Sunwest is planning to move into its new space in July.
Million Air has started preparing the ground for its $12 million FBO facility, located just to the north of Sunwest. The FBO will be 6,000 square feet in size, with a 40,000-square-foot hangar. The hangar and fuel sales will be operational by June 2013, and the FBO in August 2013.
North West Geomatics Ltd., an aerial survey company, has nearly completed construction of a hangar just to the north of Million Air. The building comprises a hangar and office complex, with occupancy planned for the spring of 2013.
In addition to airside development, several large freight buildings are planned on other non-airside land.
Over on the northeast side of CYYC, work on the Nav Canada control tower continues, with a planned spring start-up. When the new tower is operational, the old one and its surrounding land on the west side will be developed by the airport. A decision to keep or demolish the existing tower had not been made at the time of writing.
Surface roadwork is also being carried out in the southwest quadrant of the airport, as 64th Avenue is extended to provide better access to the existing freight companies. A commercial development is underway at the intersection of 12 Street Northeast and McKnight Boulevard, on a parcel of airport land that has been vacant for a number of years.
Construction continues on the terminal expansion, named the International Facilities Project (IFP). The 1.975 million-square-feet (183,484-square-metre) project will include 22 new boarding gates, Canada and U.S. customs, and a 300-room hotel. The IFP will open in October 2015.
Despite winter weather, work on the parallel runway project continues, with vast amounts of earth being moved from one location to another, as underground services are installed and other areas are levelled. The City of Calgary roadway tunnel is completed; beginning this spring, the entire length of the runway and taxiways will be paved. The runway is scheduled to open in May 2014 and will be named 35R/17L.
After the new runway is completed, land adjacent to it on the east side will be developed. This property will likely provide additional space for airside real estate development for a few more years.
