Calgary International (YYC) officially opened its new International Terminal this week, moving all U.S. and international flight operations to the new terminal facility.The opening of the new terminal at YYC marks the completion of the largest single infrastructure program in the airport’s history – the Airport Development Program. That program, which included a runway development project completed in 2014, cost approximately CA$2 billion (US$1.49 billion).
“In 2014 we opened Canada’s longest runway and today we welcome the world to the most advanced airport terminal in Canada,” said Garth Atkinson, president and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority. “Our new International Terminal not only ensures YYC Calgary International Airport remains a major contributor to the economy of western Canada, it also represents a significant new contribution to Canada’s transportation infrastructure overall.”
The new 186,000 square meter (2 million square foot) terminal, highlighted in the October issue of Airport Revenue News, adds 24 aircraft gates at YYC, and incorporates numerous technologies and processes designed to streamline the passenger experience throughout the airport. These include North America’s first call-to-gate passenger boarding system, North America’s first full CATSA Plus enhanced passenger screening system, enhanced U.S. and Canadian customs technology, a state of the art CrisBag tote-based baggage system and the YYC LINK, a custom-designed and Canadian-build passenger shuttle service that transports passengers between the domestic and international facilities.
The International Terminal design incorporates natural elements of the Calgary region. Stone walls and granite flooring reflect the Rocky Mountains, while wood paneling for the ceilings and water features in the design give a feel of the region’s many forests and the Bow River.
“We wanted the new international terminal to continue the YYC tradition of being warm and comfortable, yet world-class in presenting a high-quality and stimulating environment that would enhance the passenger experience,” said Marco Media, vice president of planning and engineering. “Intuitive and easy from curb to gate and gate to curb has been a top priority since day one,” he added.
Another key priority for YYC was reducing its environmental footprint. The new terminal takes advantage of 581 geothermal wells that are drilled 150 meters into the ground underneath the building’s foundation to provide half the meeting and cooling needs for the building. In the terminal, double-wall facades incorporate venetian blinds to deflect sunlight. Additionally, the terminal has two large cisterns that can collect and recycle more than 800,000 liters of rain and snowmelt to be used in low-flow plumbing.
