Dynamic Corporation
Overview
The launch of the National Airports Policy in 1994 resulted in the creation of local Airport Authorities across the country. The Ottawa International Airport Authority was established in 1997 after the assembly of a community-based Board of Directors who were tasked with overseeing the management of the airport.
Since the Airport Authority was established, a number of milestones were reached that have created more opportunity and economic growth for the communities of Ottawa and Gatineau:
- The construction and opening of a U.S. pre-clearance facility;
- The construction and opening of the new Combined Services Building, providing a new home for the Airport Fire Department, and operational vehicle maintenance operations;
- A new central de-icing facility;
- A new 650,000 square foot Passenger Terminal Building, and 4-level parking facility (Parkade) that opened in October of 2003;
- Expansion of the Parkade to accommodate 2,500 vehicles, which opened in December, 2005;
- Paid $90 M in rent to the federal government since 1997; and,
- Injected over $852M in wages, operational costs and capital costs into the local economy since 1997.
Since the opening of the Passenger Terminal Building, passenger volumes have grown significantly, necessitating an expansion to the domestic and international holdroom to accommodate 12 more gates. Phase II of the Airport Expansion Program was announced in April of 2006, and construction of more than 7,000 square metres of additional domestic and international holdroom space commenced in August of that year. The expanded space will have the same look and feel as the Passenger Terminal Building, with the same architectural details and elements. It is expected that the new gates will be operational by the end of 2007. The remainder of the exterior work, including demolition of the old terminal, and construction of the apron which will wrap around the terminal, will be completed by December 2008.
With no government funding whatsoever, the Ottawa International Airport has increased development on airport property, including hotels, and FBO hangar, a restaurant and several business enterprises have moved their operations to new facilities on the airport campus, The considerable growth of the airport has secured its position as a significant economic generator for the National Capital Region, as confirmed in economic impact studies that have been undertaken by the Authority. When direct and indirect salaries and other factors are accounted for, the airport injects more than $1B dollars into the local economy on an annual basis.
The community has embraced the progress that has been made, and understands that the decisions which have guided the Authority successfully through each project have been based on thoughtful consideration, a consultative process and a prudent approach to financial management. Future development will be done with the same responsible approach, and in keeping with the priorities set out in the Authority’s Strategic and Master Plans.
The sky is the limit.
History
The Ottawa International Airport was opened in 1930 when the Canadian civil aviation industry was just beginning to take shape in the National Capital Region. In February of 1997, Transport Canada transferred the facility to the newly formed Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority (OMCIAA), an independent corporation without share capital which was created on January 1, 1995 under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act. The Authority is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors representing the Ottawa and Gatineau business communities, major users of airport facilities and the travelling public.
On October 12, 2003, the new state-of-the-art, 650,000 square foot Passenger Terminal Building opened for business. Built with the community in mind, the award-winning facility is open, filled with natural light, and intuitively easy to navigate through. An adjacent Parkade was also built, much to the delight of passengers In fact, it proved so popular, an expansion was required in 2005 to accommodate more than 2,500 vehicles.
Passenger traffic has risen significantly since the opening of the Passenger Terminal Building, and now exceeds pre-September 11, 2001 figures. The accelerated growth resulted in saturation at peak times, and as a result, the Airport Authority announced in April, 2006, that it would expand the domestic and international holdroom to accommodate 12 new gates. Airport Expansion Program Phase II (AEP II) broke ground in August of 2006, and is expected to be fully completed by the summer of 2008.
The Ottawa Airport plays an essential role in the economic growth of the National Capital Region, servicing the needs of millions of travellers each year.