Passengers flying in and out of the Ottawa International Airport should get ready for a whole new travel experience.
The Authority is preparing for a five-year, multi-phase enhancement program that represents a combined investment of more than $100 million by various project stakeholders. Already a major economic driver, the airport injects $2.2 billion into the local economy each year and needs to evolve to meet the growing needs of our city and the requests of our passengers, as is expected of an award-winning airport. The airport was named Best Airport in North America among those that serve between two and five million passengers per year by Airport Service Quality (ASQ) for 2017.
After several years of steady growth, the airport is on pace to surpass the five million passenger milestone by the end of 2018. The various projects will help the airport accommodate the increase in passenger traffic, while providing top-quality service.
“Thanks to a robust local economy driven by strength in sectors such as technology, government, life sciences, tourism, defence and security, the region is growing” says Mark Laroche, president and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority. “This strength is reflected in our passenger volumes which will set new records in 2018. As an economic driver in Ottawa-Gatineau, YOW must keep up with demand while maintaining high service standards representative of Canada’s Capital”.
The project involves renovations, renewal of end-of-life infrastructure, new amenities, and changes to how passengers move through the terminal. Domestic and international pre-board security screening will be relocated to the third-floor departures area, improving passenger flow and reducing wait times.
The retail, food and dining experience in the airport will be transformed over the next several years. The tender process for a new Master Concessionaire will conclude early in the new year for providers interested in offering travellers fresh options – some of which are expected to have a local flavour.
Visitors will also have more options for overnight accommodations. The airport is currently in negotiation with a hotelier to build approximately 150-200 rooms that will connect to the airport by an indoor skywalk.
Options for airport access will also be growing. Construction of an airport terminal station will begin in 2019 as part of the Trillium Line expansion – an investment that will ensure multi-modal access to the airport, befitting Canada’s Capital.
Learn more about the changes coming to the Ottawa International Airport at www.yow.ca/yow+.
