Nanaimo Airport is planning to pump $29 million worth of infrastructure upgrades over the next five years focusing on runway upgrades and safety. (Google StreetView)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MAJOR PLAN

Nanaimo airport eyeing new domestic & vacation flights through $29M upgrade plan

Dec 23, 2020 | 11:57 AM

NANAIMO — A host of infrastructure and safety upgrades are penciled in for Nanaimo Airport.

The Airport Commission released its investment plan for the next five years, budgeting $28.8 million in capital projects including upgraded runway lighting, an expanded apron on the runway at the south of the airport and new concrete around the terminal.

Dave Devana, airport CEO, told NanaimoNewsNOW the pandemic forced them to delay several capitals projects set for 2020/21. Planning for future infrastructure spending is based on a gradual return to normal passenger levels by 2024.

“The basic idea is we want to make sure our infrastructure is ready for when people are ready to travel again and we want to provide some improved routes to Toronto, Edmonton, Kelowna and in a couple of years to sun destinations.”

Around half the money in the plan for infrastructure upgrades is slated to come from government grants, similar to projects at the airport in the past.

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The $14 million upgraded terminal building, unveiled in late-February, was partially funded by $5 million in government money.

“We do expect as we come out of the pandemic there will be infrastructure dollars available and we’re prepared to provide our match funding to those grants to advance the airports infrastructure.”

The airport had forecast to make $2.5 million in 2020 before the pandemic hit. Devana said they’ll lose $1.4 million instead.

Worldwide restrictions on travel sent passenger number plummeting. Just over 181,000 passengers will travel through Nanaimo airport in 2020, down 63 per cent from a record year in 2019.

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