Halifax airport’s upgrades continue
By Our Special Features Staff
Sat. Jan 31 - 4:46 AM
The face of Halifax Stanfield International Airport continues to change as investments in infrastructure and capital development continually improve facilities for the travelling public.
The Halifax International Airport Authority switched its focus in the past year to projects on the ‘ground’ side of the terminal and has spent several millions of dollars on things like: upgrading roadways in front of the terminal building; a new 2,300-space parking garage; completing infrastructure requirements for a new Sheraton Hotel; developing a new $24 million combined facility for a new fire hall and maintenance equipment; plus going forward with a new $12-million, 40,000- square-foot multi-tenant cargo building, a joint venture with the private concern, Gateway Facilities Inc.
The cargo facility will be constructed near the IMP hangar in the airport’s airside subdivision.
"This is a major milestone (cargo facility) for the airport authority and our community," Tom Ruth, the airport authority’s President and CEO said in a release. "As the hub and gateway of Atlantic Canada and the closest North American continental link to Europe, this facility opens the door for tremendous economic growth for the region’s air cargo industry, as well as other aviation businesses like the one we’re seeing today," he said.
The parking garage will be completed early this year (2009). It will be connected to the terminal building via pedway which will keep airport users out of the inclement weather.
The 176-room Sheraton, being built at a cost of about $30 million, will be located next to the garage and also connected to the terminal by a pedway. The hotel is expected to be completed in 2010 and unlike the many detours required this past year to accommodate road work, hotel construction is not expected to hamper airport traffic or pedestrians.
As the airport grows physically so does its importance to the provincial economy.
According to economic impact study conducted by Hatch Mott MacDonald (formerly SGE Acres), the airport was worth over $1.23 billion to the economy in 2007.
The airport study took into consideration airlines, air freight firms, the airport authority, retailers and other companies within the airport community.
These businesses offer total direct employment of 5,530 jobs and direct wages and salaries of $193.6 annually.
IMP Group, Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz are the largest employers as they account for nearly half of the direct employment.
"Together, all our airport businesses create a trade and commerce catalyst with a tremendous impact on the municipality and the province as an economic generator and growth enabler," Mr. Ruth said. "The results of this study demonstrate the important role of the airport as we market Nova Scotia to the world."
The airport handled over 3.4 million passengers in 2007; visitors by air represented about 31 per cent of all tourists to the province and in 2007 it generated over $750 million in revenue.
In 2008, the airport continued its international award-winning ways by garnering a number of honours based on passenger surveys conducted for Airports Council International.
The awards were: first in overall passenger satisfaction for airports worldwide with under five million passengers; first in the best domestic airport worldwide category; and first in the Americas in the category of Airport People Awards. Halifax ranked second for overall satisfaction in the Americas.
In its six years of participating in this global airport ranking program, Halifax Stanfield has earned 12 first-place awards, five for second place and two third places.