With no set closure date for the City Centre Airport, many companies are picking up and moving on this week. Most of the businesses are relocating to the Edmonton International Airport however, not everyone is going without a fight.
There are currently approximately 45 businesses still running out of the City Centre Airport, which will eventually close to make way for residential development.
“A world leading, sustainable redevelopment. A community of approximately 30, 000 people, a walkable community, a very holistic community,” says Phil Sande of City Centre Redevelopment.
He says there is also a retail sector planned for the area.
One of the runways at City Centre closed in 2010. For now, the other remains operational. But, for how long?
“The airport will remain operational until city council passes a future vote in concert with working with Edmonton Regional Airport Authority and Nav Canada,” explains Sande.
With the future up in the air, many businesses are on their way out.
Canadian Helicopters is moving to the International Airport. Earlier this year, the company called on the city to help pay for moving expenses, threatening to leave Edmonton. The city didn’t offer compensation however, the company says the International Airport offered a deal it couldn’t refuse.
Northern Air is another company on its way out. Friday will be the last scheduled flight for the company as they also move to the International.
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“We do have some people that are pleased with (the move) but the majority of our customers, I think, would prefer to work out of the Edmonton city airport,” says Rob King, President of Northern Air adding, “We are serving a different clientele now, going into the International Airport and we have to remain positive and move forward in that manner.”
Northern Air will still operate air ambulance and charters from City Centre in the meantime, while council decides on a firm closure date.
Airco Aircraft Charters, however, says it isn’t going away so easily.
“The reason why we’re still here and other companies are leaving is, we have a long term lease, and our lease, technically, could go until 2048,” says Managing Director, Mary Anne Stanway, adding, “We still have all the same customers and we’re going forward as if nothing is happening.”
Stanway says it is daunting however, not knowing what will happen to the company.
“Obviously what we would prefer is if someone said ‘there is going to be a compromise and the airport will remain open in some function, and still be able to accommodate the LRT and do some of the envisioning the city is seeing without losing the airport.’ Ultimately, that’s what we would like to see, that would be the least frustrating.”
Airco has launched a lawsuit, fighting the closure of the airport. Stanway says the company believes the best way to have the issue resolves is through the court system.
However, the city is firm on it’s vision.
“We have to be very respectful, of course, of the existing airport operation until council renders its decision,” Sande says adding, “We own a significant portion of the land that’s right in that location and therefore we would have the opportunity to be able to begin development on that in 2014.”
Sande says completion of the plans for the overall design of the City Centre property are underway. He anticipates having the plans in front of council for approval by the end of this year.
With files from Kendra Slugoski.
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