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YLW to Have New Airport Plaza, Renovated Departure Lounge, and More

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

Kelowna International Airport made some significant announcements Tuesday for construction projects starting very soon.

YLW is close to its capacity in several areas thanks to the massive growth it’s seen. The airport was expected to reach 1.6 million passengers in 2015, but instead reached this target in 2014, partly thanks to 25 straight months of record growth. On Tuesday, YLW announced four main areas of growth and renovation that will start in 2015: enhancements to the departure lounge, a brand new airport plaza, an expansion of the outbound baggage hall, and the expansion of the aircraft apron. In total, $55.6 million will be invested into project starting this year.

Concept image for the enhanced departure lounge, including a tourism wall for Destination BC. (Photo Credit: YLW)

The departure lounge has seen 15 years since its last upgrade, and it will be redesigned to be bright, attractive, and Okanagan-centred. Phase 1 will involve a complete remodel of the entire west side of the lounge, including the gift store, the youth centre, duty-free shops, etc., to create an “ultra-modern retail facility,” combining all the gift and duty-free shops into one big store.

There will also be a seasonal fruit display, Farm to Flight, to feature and sell premium Okanagan fruit. Later in 2015, the departure lounge will get the airport’s second Tim Hortons and a Subway. Other phases through 2016 and 2017 will include skylights, modern seating, a wine bar, and new food kiosks.

Concept for the airport plaza, set to start construction very soon. (Photo Credit: YLW)

The airport plaza will start construction this April or May in partnership with PatAIRa Holdings, and it will include an ESSO gas station and convenience store. Built by the railway tracks near short-term parking, this new plaza is anticipated to fill a need for a service station in the northern area of Kelowna due to the rapid growth in Quail Ridge and the university. This phase will be completed in fall 2015, and Phase 2 will start in 2016 with a car wash and a detailing bay. The plaza will cover a bit more than an acre, including retail and additional offices as well as two food outlets. This new plaza is estimated to create 35-40 new jobs.

The baggage hall expansion will begin this June and finish in 2016, with the first phase concentrating on the newest screening procedures. This expansion will allow the airport to almost double the amount of bags handled per hour as well as have an indoor drive-thru for baggage cars so that bags aren’t left outside in the elements, particularly in the winter months. Airline offices will also be renovated from 2016 to 2017, and from 2017 to 2018, the check-in area will get a complete makeover. As a result, passengers will be able to use automated tellers for the baggage drop-off. This remodeling of the oldest part of the terminal will mean that passengers won’t even need to talk to a teller to drop off their bags.

Phase 2 of the outbound baggage hall. (Photo Credit: YLW)

Another big expansion will be in the works for the aircraft apron, which is where the aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, and boarded. The taxi lane will be repaired and expanded, two new Code C Operational Stands will be added for aircraft parking, and the apron will be rehabilitated. Currently the apron is at full capacity most nights, so this expansion will allow the airport leeway for more airlines and flights.

This expansion is mostly going through the north of the apron, meaning that the Glycol and Potassium Acetate Storage Facility will have to be relocated to the south side to allow expansion. Glycol is the de-icing fluid for planes, while potassium acetate is de-icing for the runway. Currently the airport has two 15,000 L tanks for the fluids, but after renovations, they’ll double their capacity with two 30,000 L tanks.

(Photo Credit: KelownaNow)

With all these big changes, the airport warns that the public might experience some inconveniences. For example, passengers will have to walk less direct routes through the air bridge corridor to arrivals, though ambassadors will be strategically placed to help anyone with special circumstances.

The upcoming projects are all being funded through YLW’s airport improvement fee, a $15 fee included in the tickets for all departing passengers.



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