Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Nov 01/99) - The days of being packed like sardines into the secure area at the Iqaluit Airport are almost behind Nunavut travellers.

So says John Graham, the manager of the international airport for the last two years.

"You know how cramped it can be down there on really busy days," said Graham, referring to the confined area where travellers must wait after their flights have been called.

"It can seat about 20 right now. When it's done, it should seat 75."

While the renovation may sound like a major under-taking, it's not all that complicated. Graham said the extension can be completed by about the middle of December simply by building a new glass wall in front of the existing area, thereby increasing the amount of space.

"That's really it," he said.

The recommendation to expand the area came as part of the new master plan developed by Northern architects Ferguson Simek Clark and Ottawa-based LPS Aviation in April.

The previous plan guiding the 13-year-old airport expired this year and hadn't taken into account the growth of the capital, the population boom or the fact that up to 70,000 people would pass through the airport annually.

The new plan is still awaiting overall approval by the GN's Department of Community Government and Transportation (CGT) and is merely intended as a guide for them to use. Graham said senior management had already approved some of the renovations since coming into power six months ago.

Along with the changes to the secure area, work will soon begin on creating a separate customs area and a fuel truck that can refuel planes further down the runway arrived on the sealift this summer. The vehicle will help to eliminate some of the congestion.

Graham said, however, that some changes needed to be implemented immediately to reduce the remaining traffic jams on the airport runways and the apron.

"The jets start lining up and the apron is too congested. That problem has got to be dealt with. That's technically a regulatory infraction and it's something that shouldn't be allowed to happen."

Graham said CGT officials were currently meeting with the federal government to try and get money to help with the cost of using the larger north apron and constructing another airport terminal as recommended in the plan.