SpongeG
Oct 10, 2007, 9:29 PM
Fast times at the Abbotsford International Airport
http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals/uploads/abbotsford/.DIR288/WestJet_Airport_Fire_Truck_2_col_jvp_071009.jpg
JOHN VAN PUTTEN / Abbotsford News
Renovations at the Abbotsford International Airport will provide two new truck bays for firefighting vehicles.
By JOE MILLICAN
Abbotsford News
Oct 09 2007
Abbotsford International Airport will play a “critical role” in Canada’s aviation future, according to local MP Ed Fast.
And Fast, who this week announced a grant of close to $1 million for the aeronautical base, said he expects to see the investment of more federal cash to help the airport keep up with an anticipated surge in demand.
On Thursday, the Abbotsford MP said Ottawa had earmarked $957,961 to build an addition to the airport’s administration building.
These renovations will include two additional vehicle bays for the airport’s firefighting vehicles, bought in April, as well as a day room and additional storage and locker space.
The federal government’s new $33 billion Building Canada fund will have a component for community airports, according to Fast, which he believes could be of great benefit to Abbotsford.
“We expect we are going to have more announcements,” Fast told the Abbotsford News.
“There’s nothing decided yet, but I am certainly hopeful this is just the beginning of assistance from the federal government for the Abbotsford airport.”
Previously, Fast explained that smaller Canadian airports had obtained funding through the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), which was introduced by Transport Canada in 1994.
However, that program has been criticized in the past, by groups including the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, for not always providing sufficient funding.
For the future, Fast believes Abbotsford airport will become increasingly prominent.
“I think Abbotsford airport will play a critical role,” he said.
“YVR (Vancouver International Airport) is bursting at the seams. They have had their own expansions that are still being constructed and it will not be long before they are out of capacity.
“The logical place to look is Abbotsford and we have to be ready for that . . . We can’t be behind the eight-ball.”
In July, the City of Abbotsford reported that a record 502,634 passengers passed through Abbotsford airport in 2006.
And while 227,536 passengers used the airport from January to June in 2006, the city said the number of passengers for the same period this year was up 14 per cent to 259,762.
Also earlier this year, the Abbotsford Airport Authority gave permission to proceed with plans to expand the air terminal buildings for increased capacity. These renovations are expected to start in the fall of 2008 and be completed by 2010.
http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=1079336&more=0
http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals/uploads/abbotsford/.DIR288/WestJet_Airport_Fire_Truck_2_col_jvp_071009.jpg
JOHN VAN PUTTEN / Abbotsford News
Renovations at the Abbotsford International Airport will provide two new truck bays for firefighting vehicles.
By JOE MILLICAN
Abbotsford News
Oct 09 2007
Abbotsford International Airport will play a “critical role” in Canada’s aviation future, according to local MP Ed Fast.
And Fast, who this week announced a grant of close to $1 million for the aeronautical base, said he expects to see the investment of more federal cash to help the airport keep up with an anticipated surge in demand.
On Thursday, the Abbotsford MP said Ottawa had earmarked $957,961 to build an addition to the airport’s administration building.
These renovations will include two additional vehicle bays for the airport’s firefighting vehicles, bought in April, as well as a day room and additional storage and locker space.
The federal government’s new $33 billion Building Canada fund will have a component for community airports, according to Fast, which he believes could be of great benefit to Abbotsford.
“We expect we are going to have more announcements,” Fast told the Abbotsford News.
“There’s nothing decided yet, but I am certainly hopeful this is just the beginning of assistance from the federal government for the Abbotsford airport.”
Previously, Fast explained that smaller Canadian airports had obtained funding through the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), which was introduced by Transport Canada in 1994.
However, that program has been criticized in the past, by groups including the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, for not always providing sufficient funding.
For the future, Fast believes Abbotsford airport will become increasingly prominent.
“I think Abbotsford airport will play a critical role,” he said.
“YVR (Vancouver International Airport) is bursting at the seams. They have had their own expansions that are still being constructed and it will not be long before they are out of capacity.
“The logical place to look is Abbotsford and we have to be ready for that . . . We can’t be behind the eight-ball.”
In July, the City of Abbotsford reported that a record 502,634 passengers passed through Abbotsford airport in 2006.
And while 227,536 passengers used the airport from January to June in 2006, the city said the number of passengers for the same period this year was up 14 per cent to 259,762.
Also earlier this year, the Abbotsford Airport Authority gave permission to proceed with plans to expand the air terminal buildings for increased capacity. These renovations are expected to start in the fall of 2008 and be completed by 2010.
http://www.abbynews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=38&cat=23&id=1079336&more=0
