Shovels are officially in the ground on a project to double the size of the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF).

Waterloo Regional Council, airport staff and airline and business partners were on hand at a ground breaking ceremony for the project on October 14. The scope of the project sees the terminal building double in size to 60,000 square feet, with supporting work on the airside of the facility.

“It is an exciting time for the region and today is an important milestone as the airport continues to grow and drive a thriving economy,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “Airline partners have recently announced an increase in destinations and frequency of flights, which will move the airport to the next level in world-class service. This will also provide more opportunities for the region in terms of jobs and economic expansion.”

Passenger traffic at the airport is expected to grow to more than one million in 2022 – from just 70,000 in 2019. A large part of the reason for the huge jump in traffic is the airport’s hosting of ultra-low cost carriers such as Flair Airlines. The airport’s general manager, Chris Wood, told CBC News that about 35 percent of the passenger volume at YKF come from outside the region, and as far away as Toronto, London and Owen Sound.

The total cost of the airport expansion is pegged at about $44 million, with the federal government contributing $4 million to the works. Regional Council recently approved the $11-million project to complete terminal expansion work at YKF. The project includes the construction of two buildings that will feature baggage carousels, holding areas, food services, retail and pre-board screening.

According to project documents, the work will be conducted in two phases. The first sees the procurement and installation of two modular relocatable structures, as well as airside pavement rehabilitation. The second phase will be the renovation and expansion of the existing terminal building. The expansion work is expected to be complete in spring 2022.

Both phases of the project appear to have been awarded to Amico Infrastructures Inc. at a contract value of slightly less than $26 million.

The region says the project is an important economic anchor that will spur future growth. It will add jobs to the economy now, help to attract businesses and support the tourism industry as the world comes out of the pandemic.

“This investment in the airport will help to ensure we are attracting people and companies to put down roots in Waterloo Region,” said Redman. “This growth is just the beginning as we build a community that is globally competitive and one of the world’s greatest places to live.”

YKF is owned by the Region of Waterloo.

Featured image: Waterloo Region Chair Karen Redman along with regional councillors and representatives from various YKF airlines celebrated the launch of construction on October 14. (Region of Waterloo International Airport Twitter)