Calgary International Airport

CAPACITY AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE CRUCIAL CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

International airports create essential links to trade by connecting to new and thriving markets such as China, as well as providing many jobs directly from the airports themselves. Calgary International Airport (YYC), a vital contributor to the economy of Alberta, is an example of this.

In February of this year, The Calgary Airport Authority, which manages and operates YYC, received recognition for the seventh time as one of the top employers in Alberta. The award recognizes workplaces that create a vibrant and rewarding working environment. This shows how the Authority employees are proud of the unique place in which they work and how they contribute to the Calgary and Alberta communities.

This contribution is evident in the economic footprint of the airport, which is $8.3 billion a year in terms of GDP. Subsequently, this supports 48,000 jobs in the region. There are 24,000 people working directly on airport lands, as well as approximately 12,000 people employed inside the terminal building itself. Mr. Stephan Poirier, the Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of The Calgary Airport Authority, points out that airports are not simply nice things for a city to have, they are a Vibrant international airports are a vital resource and contributor to the economic climate of a country. Canada’s aviation sector is both competitive and efficient, and without it, the country’s business networks and social institutions would not function to their maximum potential. Written by Sarah Loiuse Brooks

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necessity: ‘If we do not build for future capacity, we are stifling the economic development prospect for the city and we want to make sure the region is set up for continued growth.’

Economic prosperity has community benefits. YYC is not only beneficial to the local economy, but also rewarding to those it employs locally. ‘Nothing is completed without people; if you don’t have great people then you don’t have a company and being a top employer is a priority for us’, explains Poirier. The Authority offers various benefits in order to attract the best people. Examples of these incentives include ongoing opportunities for professional development, a one-year orientation program, as well as purposeful student work opportunities and peer-to-peer recognition programmes; demonstrating a clear commitment to its staff.

Mr. Poirier depicts pride in his staff: ‘Training and developing people, in not only their personal desires but additionally in a variety of CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT skills is extremely valuable to the company in the long run and as it ensures that we have the best talent for our team.’

As well as developing staff, the most significant new investment for Calgary International Airport is the construction of a new terminal. The new international terminal is due to be completed by fall of this year and according to Mr Poirier, ‘everything is running to schedule’. The new terminal will add approximately two million square ft. to YYC and will include 24 new aircraft gates for both U.S. and International destinations. With over 10.2 million hours worked by construction organizations on the new terminal, some of the most recent milestones reached include the completion of 20 out of the 25 of the passenger boarding bridges, as well as the new baggage handling system being completed and into the stage of testing the facility.

With the project nearing completion, Mr Stephan Poirier explains the difficulties with the final touches: ‘Many meetings are conducted in the final stages as the small details are of equal importance to us. Various activities are ongoing at the end of a project such as this one and coordination is essential to ensure we are managing well.’ The most significant economic impacts of the new terminal concern expansion, in regard to both connection and capacity. YYC is Alberta’s aviation hub of choice, doubling in both structural size and passenger volumes over the last 20 years.

In 2015 it welcomed 15.48 million passengers and in order to meet the increase in demand, this $2 billion expansion is the largest in the company’s history. The new terminal is not only significant in terms of investment size, but additionally, it includes innovative systems, designed to give the best customer experience possible to the passengers. These include a new Connections Corridor and connections processes, as well as a new gate system, which will mirror the modern process already in practice in airports such as Heathrow, London. In regards to the logistics of passenger experience, the gate announcement will be made in the central departures hall, which is surrounded by retail outlets, allowing 50 | Endeavour Magazine

AIRPORT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION NEW CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATION AIRPORT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION NEW CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATION

Tristar’s broad experience in helping to ensure the safety of some of Canada’s busiest airports has earned it a solid reputation for success across the entire airport lighting segment—from runways and taxiways, to aprons, high‐mast lighting and approach systems. Regardless of project size, scope, or urgency, Tristar’s dedication to value, quality, efficiency and safety remain steadfast. Take a look at the porfolio of Tristar’s work—it speaks volumes about its experience, capabilities and commitment. Tristar’s broad experience in helping to ensure the safety of some of Canada’s busiest airports has earned it a solid reputation for success across the entire airport lighting segment—from runways and taxiways, to aprons, high‐mast lighting and approach systems. Regardless of project size, scope, or urgency, Tristar’s dedication to value, quality, efficiency and safety remain steadfast. Take a look at the porfolio of Tristar’s work—it speaks volumes about its experience, capabilities and commitment.

The most complex construction and infrastructure development projects begin with one simple acton: listening. Tristar delivers measurable, bottom‐line value by first gaining a thorough understanding of clients’ needs and objectves; only then does work begin to start crafting a soluton designed to exceed expectations at every stage. To ensure high customer satsfaction, Tristar principals oversee each project, regardless of size. The systems and procedures used were developed for quality assurance and guarantee that clients receive end products of the highest standard. Aircraft have become so sophisticated that a pilot can Literally fly blind in the most appalling conditions. But even the most experienced pilot breathes a sigh of relief when he drops through the cloud cover and catches the welcoming sight of the airfield lights in the distance. And if that pilot is flying into Toronto –Pearson International Airport or any number of other major Canadian airports, there is a good chance that the lights he sees were installed by Tristar Electric. THE CONVENIENCE OF A TRUSTED SINGLE-SOURCE PROVIDER - VALUE-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS The most complex construction and infrastructure development projects begin with one simple acton: listening. Tristar delivers measurable, bottom‐line value by first gaining a thorough understanding of clients’ needs and objectves; only then does work begin to start crafting a soluton designed to exceed expectations at every stage. To ensure high customer satsfaction, Tristar principals oversee each project, regardless of size. The systems and procedures used were developed for quality assurance and guarantee that clients receive end products of the highest standard. Aircraft have become so sophisticated that a pilot can Literally fly blind in the most appalling conditions. But even the most experienced pilot breathes a sigh of relief when he drops through the cloud cover and catches the welcoming sight of the airfield lights in the distance. And if that pilot is flying into Toronto –Pearson International Airport or any number of other major Canadian airports, there is a good chance that the lights he sees were installed by Tristar Electric. THE CONVENIENCE OF A TRUSTED SINGLE-SOURCE PROVIDER - VALUE-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS

passengers to relax before moving to the gate to board their plane. Mr Poirier explains there are two important advantages from this systems implementation: ‘This process increases passenger satisfaction, as you are able to enjoy the offerings of the central departures area, with additional comfort and retail opportunities. Secondly, it will increase operational flexibility, as for example in busy periods, this process eliminates the changing of gates throughout the boarding process.’

In the central departure areas of the new terminal, the local community have an important involvement. The YYC expansion programme reached out to local concessions, the food and beverage operators, and upon the opening of the terminal, there will be a great mix of local operators as well as international players in terms of the food and beverage choice available to customers. Stephan Poirier noted: ‘There is a big footprint for local vendors inside the terminal to provide a taste of who we are and what we do.’ Equally, the local community has also participated in the construction of the terminal itself in terms of the sourcing of raw materials. Wherever possible, the construction materials that went into the terminal’s construction were sourced regionally.

This evidences how financially beneficial the project has been to the surrounding communities. Finally, not only is the new International Terminal economically beneficial for the local communities, it also incorporates a range of sustainable features. The new terminal is a green building, with 660 km of in-floor radiant heating tubing, including co-generation power that will generate electricity and heat, saving 4,900 tons of CO2 each year. Stephan Poirier elaborates further on an additional environmentally friendly inclusion within the new terminal: rainwater for low-flow plumbing fixtures. He explains: ‘The new terminal will harvest 500,000 litres of rainwater, about a

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT third of what is needed to operate the terminal in terms of flushing toilets, etc. We will be using this as opposed to water from the municipal supply system. By storing and recycling the rainwater falling onto the roofs in tanks, we are helping to reduce the carbon footprint of the airport.’

In addition to having an environmental edge to its competition, Calgary International Airport also boasts a large cargo capacity. Not only were passenger volume records set in 2015, with 15.48 million passengers, but the cargo volumes passing through the airport amounted to 134,695 tonnes. Expanding the airport’s cargo capabilities is also planned for this year. Further substantial expansion plans this year also include the introduction of a nonstop scheduled passenger service, connecting YYC with Beijing, China beginning June 30, 2016. Calgary International Airport is focused on maintaining its growth in a sustainable manner. Stephan Poirier adds: ‘If you expand too fast by adding too many seats, the market cannot sustain it. We are conscious of this, therefore we focus on ensuring all of our routes are very successful.’ To conclude, with a focus on connectivity and reacting to the demand for increased capacity at the airport in regards to both terminal size and cargo capacity. Mr Poirier finalises: ‘We are growing strategically, focusing on business on the connecting traffic. By providing proper infrastructure for the airlines to operate, we are providing the platform in which traffic connectivity is simple and convenient.’

With continual focus on growth and development and partner and passenger satisfaction, The Calgary Airport Authority is doing all it can to ensure that 2016 is another successful year for Calgary International Airport.