Regina airport adds foreign currency dispensing ATM

REGINA – A new automated teller service has been opened at Regina International Airport, which will for the first time exchange Canadian money into three foreign currencies.

Jim Hunter, the president of the Regina Airport Authority, said the automated teller service, provided by Thomas Cook Financial Services, is an important addition to the services provided at the airport.

A survey of airport customers had indicated an interest in having a foreign currency exchange desk at the airport, Hunter said, in a telephone interview Wednesday.

The new service will meet that need, at least in an automated form, Hunter said.

"We are proud to be working with Thomas Cook Financial Services to offer this four currency automatic teller machine as a response to this need,” Hunter said.

Three foreign currencies – the US. dollar, the Euro and the British Pound – will be available at the automated teller.

An increase in the number of flights from Regina into the U.S. has occurred in recent years. And Hunter said the availability of US. currency at the Regina airport should thus be welcomed by many travelers.

The Mexican Peso is not among the currencies available from the machine. But US. dollars are most welcome and easily transferable at many Mexican destinations, Hunter said.

Canadian dollars are also easily exchangeable at many of the popular beach and resort destinations in Mexico.

While there are no direct flights from Regina to Europe, Hunter said the availability of the Euro and the British Pound will be welcomed by many Regina travelers who are making connecting flights from Toronto and elsewhere to European destinations.

"Thomas Cook Financial Services is excited by this opportunity to work with the Regina Airport Authority and to bring this unique service to customers,” said Kevin McAdam, director of Thomas Cook Financial Services.

"This is the first time customers have been able to obtain foreign currency in the airport and we are happy to be entering into this partnership,” McAdam added, in a news release.

The automated money exchange machine will be located on the second floor of the airport, near the pre-security area.

Customers will be able to obtain exchange rate information before deciding if they wish to make a transaction on the automated machine.

A news release issued Wednesday mentioned Bel Air/My Travel, located at 558 University Park Drive, as a location in the city where about 100 different types of foreign currency can be obtained with 24 hours notice.