Earlier this month, Victoria International Airport (YYJ) announced a $600 million expansion program for the airport. From passenger terminals to runways and taxiways to remote parking spaces, the twenty-year expansion plan is expected to meet the growing passenger demand at YYJ.
Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
Victoria International Airport is 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) north of Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is the 11th busiest airport in Canada, handling nearly two million passengers in 2019. Daily domestic scheduled services operate out of YYJ, and international flights to Seattle.
The airport also offers seasonal scheduled flights to various tourist destinations in Mexico. YYJ operates many daily flights (block time of 30 minutes) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Victoria Airport Authority (VAA), a non-profit authority, manages the safe and secure operations of the YYJ.
The airport features a fully serviced air terminal with customs and immigration counters in the arrival section. Built in 1930, the airport is classified as a port of entry for international passengers and is monitored by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Unlike many large Canadian airports, YYJ does not have United States customs and border pre-clearance.
Passenger forecast
The airport authorities anticipate that YYJ will return to the pre-pandemic passenger level by 2023. Moreover, strong near-term passenger growth is forecasted until 2025. Between 2025 and 2042, the airport is expected to see a constant growth of 2%. With a 2042 forecast of 3.1 million passengers in all sectors, the airport aims to expand its infrastructure and offering to cater to the demand.
Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.
The $600 million expansion plan
Earlier this week, the airport announced a $600 million major expansion plan that will last 20 years. The scope of the expansion includes the airfield, the passenger terminal building, landside (roads, parking, and recreational areas), and commercial areas. The extension of existing runways, the addition of new taxiways, and adding more check-in and security booths are part of the expansion plan. The expansion will allow more remote parking areas including space for aircraft de-icing.
The expansion plan will be conducted in two stages. The first stage goes from 2023 to 2032, and the second from 2033 to 2042. During the first stage, safety areas at the end of the runways are built. Moreover, the taxiway filets will be developed to accommodate larger aircraft. More significant safety measures, including CAT-I lighting, will be done.
On the terminal, expansion on the eastern side to support growing demand will take place. Similarly, the western side of the terminal will see new aircraft gates, international and CBSA facilities, and an inbound baggage system.
The development of the northern taxiway will commence in the second step of the program. Moreover, multiple aprons will receive expansion to support the steady demand growth. The parking area at the terminal building will receive major expansion to cater to the demand growth. The airport’s recreational and other supporting areas will also be uplifted during the final stages of the expansion project.
What do you think about the future plans for Victoria International Airport? Have you traveled recently through the airport? Tell us in the comments section.