- 50,000 square-foot (4,645 square metres) building scheduled to open in September 2019
EDMONTON, Oct. 25, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada broke ground today for a new facility that will house its ground support equipment service and cargo teams at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), allowing the airline to further enhance its operational capabilities and reinforcing the airline's commitment to Alberta's capital city.
The 50,000 square foot (4,645 square metres) building will be constructed by Terracap Group. Air Canada has signed a 15-year lease for the multi-tenant facility, representing an investment of $19 million by the airline over the term of the lease.
Air Canada's Ground Support Equipment team will utilize 30,000 square feet (2,787 square metres) of the new facility, while Air Canada Cargo will occupy the remaining 20,000 square feet (1,858 square metres). The new facility is expected to open in September 2019.
"We look forward to this new facility at Edmonton International Airport which will support two of our important operations comprising ground support services and cargo. The new building means our Edmonton ground support equipment team can continue ensuring the approximately 167 vehicles and motorized ground support equipment Air Canada operate at the Edmonton International Airport are maintained to the highest safety, environmental and operational standards in a modern facility," stated Kevin Howlett, Senior Vice President, Regional Markets & Government Relations. "Additionally, Air Canada Cargo has significant business in Alberta and Western Canada, and with air freight and logistics being a rapidly growing sector, we have a strong focus on infrastructure improvement across our network. Our goal is to provide world-class service and a brand-new facility goes a long way in creating an enhanced experience for our customers and for our employees."
The new facility will include five spacious maintenance bays to facilitate the upkeep of Air Canada's approximately 167 airport vehicles in use at Edmonton International Airport, comprising pushback tugs to bag tractors and other vehicles. The building has separate, dedicated areas for maintaining an ever-increasing fleet of baggage carts and container dollies, as well as for welding and machining operations and enables equipment painting year-round regardless of the season. Other features include a dedicated area for electricians to carry out specialized electrical repairs and a training room that will support continuous learning by keeping mechanics current with the latest technology. Air Canada will continue to meet environmental requirements efficiently through a dedicated area to effectively handle hazardous materials.
The new building will also provide modern, upgraded facilities for Air Canada Cargo which will enable the integration of technology infrastructure and enhanced space usage for the optimal flow of goods. In 2017, Air Canada Cargo handled 3.2 million kilograms of goods, including pharmaceuticals, mail, art, and oil and gas industry equipment through its Edmonton cargo facility.
"By growing its investment at the Edmonton International Airport, Air Canada is demonstrating confidence in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and its competitiveness as part of the airline's extensive global network," said Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton
"Air Canada is a strong partner," said Tom Ruth, Edmonton International Airport President and CEO. "In addition to their San Francisco and Las Vegas route expansions from Edmonton International Airport this year, they are further committing to the Edmonton Metro Region with their investment into this new facility, helping to grow our airport and our Airport City."
"The Terracap Group of Companies prides itself on its relationship with great tenants, so we are more than fortunate to be able to construct a new state-of-the-art building for Air Canada. The airline has been such an integral part of the airline industry in Canada, so we are very proud to be a part of such a great initiative at the Edmonton International Airport and look forward to building on the relationship with Air Canada and the team at the Edmonton International Airport," said Larry Krauss, President and CEO of the Terracap Group of Companies.
This fall from Edmonton, Air Canada will offer more than 290 flights each week (up to 44 daily flights) to 12 destinations (14 in winter) in North America, including one daily flight to Las Vegas which will launch on October 28, and the daily non-stop flights to San Francisco which began earlier this year. The carrier will offer an average of 1,770 additional seats per week from Edmonton International Airport this fall and winter, when compared to the same period last year.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 220 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2017 served more than 48 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 59 in the United States and 98 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,317 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which also named Air Canada the 2018 Best Airline in North America. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.
Internet: aircanada.com
SOURCE Air Canada
