A new terminal, runway and even float planes will be up for discussion by a soon-to-be created economic development committee for the Prince Albert airport.(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

airport development

City to set up committee for airport economic development

May 24, 2019 | 5:05 PM

A new terminal building, a second runway, and a return of float planes are among elements that will be discussed by a soon-to-be established committee for Prince Albert’s airport.

The committee, which will involve multiple stakeholders, will focus on economic development, planning and operations at the facility, according to the mayor.

“We want to see upgrades and services,” Greg Dionne told paNOW after city council requested administration prepare the terms of reference for the new group. “I’ve been in discussions with West Wind Aviation because they’re looking at re-building at the airport, and I’ve asked them to sit on the committee.”

A hangar owned by TransWest Air, a subsidiary of West Wind Aviation, burnt down in 2018.

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Dionne said it was important to have operators on a committee because they had the expertise and the know-how regarding how, for example, a new shared multi-gate terminal might work. He said if millions of dollars was going to be spent on upgrades it was important to have the community and the bigger users onboard.

Float planes and another runway

Other than a new terminal building, Dionne said other important economic possibilities could be explored such as a second runway oriented North-South to complement the existing East-West layout.

“Wind and weather are a problem for us so another runway would give us more opportunity to land and more capacity,” he said.

Dionne added another economic driver could be a return of a float plane station on the river.

“You go to fly-in fishing resorts just north of us [but] you have to fly out of Winnipeg. Why not land here, fill up your plane, and pick up your passengers,” he said. “They stay a few nights, there’s heads in beds, and we get the economic development.”

Dionne figured the committee would likely feature one city councillor with the rest made up of airport users.

paNOW reached out to West Wind Aviation but they were not immediately available for comment.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow