President's Message
We are already half-way through the summer, and it looks like most people are making the most of it. Golf courses are busy, local parks and pools are filled with families, and I’m happy to say that the airport is also busy.
In June, we marked a major milestone with the inaugural flight to Frankfurt Germany. As you might recall from last fall, Air Canada announced that it would begin daily service to Frankfurt on June 1st. The business and tourism sectors in Ottawa and Gatineau had long been asking for an additional European flight, and the Airport Authority worked with Air Canada to make the route a reality. The first flight was sent off in style with a spectacular water arch, courtesy of the airport’s firefighters and the passengers were treated to a great show from the aircraft. We thank the community for its support to date, and trust that it will continue to demonstrate the strength of the local market by filling the flights.
On that note, there has been a lot of news lately about the price of oil and the impact that it’s having on airlines and the aviation industry in general. Just as you and your family might be thinking carefully about the road trips you plan to take in the future, the airlines are also thinking about the routes they serve. What does this mean for Ottawa? Well, it’s too soon to tell at this point. The airlines will be setting their fall schedules in the coming weeks, and we will have more news to share. Our passenger numbers to date have been very positive, so we hope that the local impact will be minimal. To help our airline partners, the Airport Authority took action on July 1st when it reduced terminal fees by 5% - news that was very welcomed and appreciated.
So what else is happening here at the Ottawa International Airport? Well, plans are underway for the 3rd Annual Plane Pull Challenge for charity. Teams are getting registered to see who can pull a FedEx 727-200 a total of 20 feet the fastest. Proceeds from the event will be shared by Project Clear Skies, the Airport Authority’s charitable giving program and United Way/Centraide Ottawa. If you would like to learn more or participate in a great team building event complete with lots of family fun, let us know; there is a link on the homepage of this site. If last year’s event is any indication, the day promises to be a good time for all.
From a construction perspective, work is ongoing on the exterior of the new wing and at the site of the old terminal; demolition is complete, but there is still much to be done to prepare the site for the bridges that will welcome aircraft to the terminal. We anticipate that preparation, paving and line painting will be completed in time for holiday traffic in December, when an additional 7 gates will be available.
There are some interior projects that might be of interest as well. I mentioned in my last note that we would be redesigning some interior space. Plans are well underway to move the transborder Duty Free shop, which will make it easier to make your purchases after you check-in and go through pre-board screening and US Customs. Coincident with that move, the entire area is being redesigned to improve passenger processing and baggage handling. You may notice some disruption, but we will do our best to keep it to a minimum.
We will also be moving some of the domestic check-in counters to streamline airline operations and baggage handling, while implementing a common use check-in kiosk program. With the new kiosks, you will be able to check in for your flight at any of 25 machines when you fly with the participating airlines. Implementation of the program will be spread out over the next several months.
The Canadian Professional Golf Association is hosting the Canadian Women’s Open at the Hunt Golf and Country Club in August. We have been working with the CPGA to ensure that the golfers are provided a fitting welcome when they arrive in the Nation’s Capital, including banners and pageantry in and around the terminal, and by facilitating a well-organized player shuttle service to and from the golf club. We’re looking forward to the bustle of activity that we know will surround this prestigious event, and are proud to serve as a fitting arrival point for the ladies.
As you can tell, things are always moving at the airport. We’ll keep you posted on the projects I mentioned, and hopefully you’ll see positive changes when you next visit.