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The Saint John Airport’s airfield will be completely rehabilitated and modernized, thanks in part to a $10 million investment made by Transport Canada.
Transport Minister Marc Garneau made the announcement at an event in Saint John on April 11, 2018.
“The investment announced today will enable us to make safety-related improvements that ensure we comply with the latest airport design standards and lessens the cost of annual routine maintenance going forward,” said president and CEO Derrick Stanford.
“Once completed, these critical infrastructure improvements will allow us to realize our passenger growth goals and remain a key economic driver for the region.”
The airfield modernization project comprises the complete rehabilitation of the airport’s two runways and the addition of centreline lighting on the primary runway to improve accessibility for arriving and departing aircraft.
It is expected the project will begin this spring, and be completed in December 2019.
Announced in 2017, Transport Canada’s National Trade Corridors Fund represents the first time the Saint John Airport has been eligible for federal funding since the country’s airports were privatized in 1999.
In addition to the federal investment, the Government of New Brunswick has committed $4 million and the Saint John Airport has committed more than $6 million, for a total project cost of $20.4 million.
“On behalf of our board of directors, the whole YSJ team and the entire community, we’d like to thank the Government of Canada for recognizing the critical importance of our modernization project to the continued growth of our region,” said Stanford.
“Our Member of Parliament, the Government of New Brunswick, mayors of Saint John and surrounding municipalities, Enterprise Saint John and the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, have all voiced their support and helped lead us to where we are today, which is an exciting spot to be.”
A 2015 economic impact report showed airport activity contributed $63.6 million to the city of Saint John’s gross output, $33.9 million to its GDP and $24.5 million to wages and salaries.
The report also found that since the transfer of airport land to the Saint John Airport from Transport Canada in 1999, the Airport Authority and tenants have spent more than $23 million on capital projects.
The airport currently serves more than 250,000 passengers annually, a number expected to grow to more than 295,000 in 2018.
