Kelowna council approves $69.9 million in YLW investment

Photo: File photo

Kelowna International Airport is set to grow again.

During Kelowna city council budget approval Thursday, councillors directed almost $70 million towards expanding YLW over the next three years. The investment is the largest the airport has ever received in its 72-year history.

“Today marks the next step in our plan to expand the airport to ensure it meets the needs of our region now and well into the future,” said Sam Samaddar, airport director. “With this investment, we can begin construction in the spring of 2020 to better serve more passengers.”

The funds will go towards doubling the size of the departures area, expanding security screening, increasing food and beverage options, additional snow clearing capabilities, and expanding the apron to accommodate larger and more aircraft.

Beginning next March, the work is scheduled to continue through 2023.

To fund the expansion, YLW's airport improvement fee is increasing by $5 to $25 for every departing passenger. As such, the investment does not impact taxation.

Last year, 2,080,372 passengers moved through YLW, a 31 per cent increase since 2015, making it the 10th busiest airport in Canada.

The airport is projected to see 3.5 million passengers by 2045.