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There's been no bigger indicator of the region's tremendous growth than the number of visitors going through Kelowna International Airport. The airport just welcomed its millionth passenger earlier this week, and is on track to smash last year's record for visitors passing through the terminal.
GREAT NEWS FOR SKIERS! Recently completed, the airport now offers an expanded runway that will be able to handle jumbo jets both regular and charter flights from Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States. International guests will be able to take advantage of the convenience of non-stop flights. Their travel time will also be cut down by clearing customs and immigration in much shorter lines than those found in larger metropolitan airports.The Kelowna International Airport is investing $36 million to expand facilities to meet the growing demand as passenger numbers are forecast to grow to 1.6 million passengers in 2015.
“Passenger volumes continue to rise and we are already nearing our million passenger mark for the year - which is one month earlier than last year and three months earlier than the year before,” says Airport General Manager Roger Sellick, who is seeing traffic rise by almost 14 per cent. “Over the last three years our passenger traffic has continued to rise by double digits.”
The center piece of the Kelowna International Airport 2010 Development Program is a new international arrivals concourse capable of handling 250 passengers per hour. Improved ground access and expanded vehicle parking, a new car rental facility and two new aircraft loading bridges are also included in the program.
In addition to the program approval Kelowna City Council authorized airport administration to retain services of a multi-disciplined consulting company to design, supervise and commission the individual program elements.
Competitive air service is key to success in the global marketplace and Kelowna International provides a vital link to the economic prosperity of the entire region. Kelowna International is responsible for generating an estimated $310 million of annual economic activity and sustaining 1,835 full-time jobs. Visit the Kelowna International Airport’s website at www.ylw.aero for more information. |