Five major YLW expansion projects to begin this year

The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is about to undergo some major construction.

Starting this year and finishing in 2018 the airport will see five construction projects finished. Between 2010 and 2020 YLW will have invested more than $92 million in facility upgrades.

Included in the plans are changes to the departures lounge. Sam Samaddar, Airport Director, said this is the biggest project starting in 2016. Inside the Departures lounge travellers will be able to find new fresh food and beverage options, like a new Subway.

“Today when getting on an airplane the options are very limited. Now you’re able to get a sandwich of your choice before you get on the airplane.”

Samaddar noted that they will be starting a new initiative called Farm to Flight. After people pass through security they will be able to pick up fresh in-season Okanagan fruits. The fruits will be available for individual consumption, or even case lot, just like how in the eastern part of Canada you can pick up lobster once you pass through security.

The new departures lounge is meant to make it more of a personal and comfortable experience flying.

If fresh Okanagan fruit isn’t your thing, Samaddar said they’ll be including other Okanagan-based products too.

“We’re trying to showcase the Okanagan and so with the new gift store for example that we have opened, we have included local Okanagan art. Local artists are displayed there and people can buy it as a souvenir or if people are from here and they want to take a gift to where they’re going they can buy that product there.”

The lounge upgrades has an investment of $4 million and construction will start in about two months.

Another big construction project will be a new Airport Plaza.

The plaza will be a place for travellers to stop before heading home, or even for people who live in the north end of Kelowna to pick up different bits and pieces. Construction on the plaza will start in two weeks and has an investment of $4.5 million. Samaddar noted that the plaza is being funded by a private investment, so the airport is not directly paying for it.

Samaddar said it will even include a gas station and a small store.

“A gas station is certainly needed as people are returning their u-drives and they need to fill up. They usually will look for the last point before arriving. People who are arriving from holidays who are coming home for example late at night maybe need to get some milk or something, so a confectionery store would be useful.”

The plaza will also include different alternatives for food, like a new Freshii location and a drive-thru Tim Hortons.

The three other projects the airport will start will be an outbound baggage hall expansion, non-passenger vehicle screening facility and West Lands development.

All construction is expected to be completed by 2018.