The federal government announced Monday that the Edmonton International Airport was receiving $10.4 million in new funding to help recover from the effects of the pandemic and support continued air services.
The funding, from Transport Canada’s Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, will be used to maintain safety, security and connectivity for travellers, workers and communities, the government news release said.
The new funds will also improve the security of and access to public WiFi at EIA and improve IT infrastructure to streamline the check-in process.
EIA is working with other major airports on making the check-in process more consistent. Every airport does it differently, with different machines and processes, but the plan is to roll out a consistent check in to make travel easier.
“Ultimately, we’re here to serve passengers and we have realized there’s no good reason why we can’t work together with other airports so that check-in procedures become similar and consistent at participating airports,” said Tom Ruth, EIA president and CEO.
“It will save us money by working together and, when it’s complete in the coming years, passengers will see a harmonized system across several major Canadian airports.”
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The collaboration is between airports in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
According to an EIA spokesperson, the airport had about 2.4 million passengers for much of 2021 — statistics from December have yet to be released. That number was 2.6 million for all of 2020. In 2019, pre-pandemic, the airport saw nearly 8.2 million passengers.
“The Edmonton International Airport is a key transportation hub not just for Edmonton but for much of north-central Alberta and the territories,” said Daniel Vandal, federal minister of Northern Affairs.
“It connects us with family and friends, helps us discover new destinations, and is a pivotal transportation corridor for many greater Edmonton businesses and Canada’s resource development sector. This funding will enhance airport safety for travellers, air crews and airport workers, while supporting jobs and our regional economy.”
The $10.4 million will help with:
- Information technology infrastructure (new hardware, software, network and data facilities, to increase security and better protect the airport from potential cybersecurity and system attacks);
- Replacing critical infrastructure to enhance the efficiency and security of airport check-in and boarding;
- Projects to enable COVID-19 testing and screening at the airport.
“As we move forward with the safe and gradual return of activity in the aviation sector, in a way that continues to support the health, safety, and security of all Canadians, it will be imperative that we maintain a vibrant and competitive Canadian air sector,” said Omar Alghabra, federal minister of Transport.
“These critical investments will allow the Edmonton International Airport to invest in the infrastructure and equipment needed to help re-invigorate the aviation industry and allow Canadians to feel safe and secure when they travel.”
The Airport Critical Infrastructure Program, launched in May 2021, will distribute $571.2 million in funding over five years to airports for eligible infrastructure projects related to safety, security, connectivity to mass transit systems, or testing and screening related to COVID-19.
So far, EIA has received about $18.5 million of that funding, as well as $6.2 million from Transport Canada’s Airport Relief Fund.
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