Vancouver International (YVR) last week celebrated the official opening of its International Terminal expansion, which included an indoor stream surrounded by cafes, restaurants, 4,000 square meters of duty free shopping and an aquarium showcasing the sea life of British Columbia.
The new, $200 million, 36,000 square meter expansion, is the cornerstone of a $1 billion construction program that will better accommodate growing passenger traffic and larger aircraft.
Aldeasa, a Spanish company, is YVR’s new duty free provider. Its 13 shops include Western Canada’s first Mango boutique, one of the world’s only Hermes boutiques, and several other offerings.
Earlier in June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) honored the Vancouver Airport Authority with an Eagle Award, which recognizes outstanding performance in customer satisfaction, cost efficiency and continuous improvements.
IATA specifically recognized the authority, which operates YVR, for freezing aeronautical rates and lowering international landing fees in 2007 while amidst the expansion program, according to a statement from YVR, Canada’s second-busiest airport with 17.5 million passengers expected this year.
“The Airport Authority works hard to balance conservative fiscal management and creative operational solutions to ensure we’re providing value and exceptional service to both our airline partners and our customers,” says Larry Berg, president and CEO of the authority, in the statement.
