Councillor: city needs say in airport
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
At least one Yellowknife city councillor says the city should have more say in how the Yellowknife Airport is run.
Coun. Adrian Bell is calling for an airport authority that would bring city staff and politicians as well as other stakeholders to the table when important decisions are being made about how the facility should be funded and run.
Bell's comments followed a presentation to the Municipal Services Committee on Monday by deputy minister of Transportation Russell Neudorf. In it, he outlined ambitious plans for the airport including an effort to make it more financially self-sufficient.
"While there are some promising aspects to what's being proposed right now, for me the real concern is that governance aspect," Bell said. "If you talk about adding an entrepreneurial business-like approach to the operations of the airport - I don't think you can do that through keeping it within the GNWT. I think you have to go all the way and pursue the airport authority. I don't think you can find a model anywhere in Canada where they've stopped this devolution halfway."
Included in the Department of Transportation's plans is what's known as an airport improvement fee which was actually announced in June's territorial budget. It calls for an additional $20 fee for airline passengers flying south from Yellowknife and a $10 fee for anyone flying north of Yellowknife.
The department is also calling for an increase in the fees airlines pay to the airport in order to land in Yellowknife. Neudorf pointed out that currently, Yellowknife's airport landing fees are substantially lower than other Canadian airports of similar size.
In an e-mail to Yellowknifer, Department of Transportation spokesperson Sauna Saunders stated each airline will make its own decision with respect to how these cost increases will be reflected in ticket pricing - it could be that the increased landing fee expense would be passed on to passengers in the form of higher fares.
In Neudorf's presentation, he pointed out the airport is currently subsidized by the territorial government to the tune of about $4 million per year, not including capital improvements. He added, like most airports in Canada, Yellowknife's airport should be self-sufficient and not require a subsidy.
Neudorf said increased aeronautical (landing) fees will bring in an additional $4 million to offset operation and maintenance at the facility and the airport improvement fee will bring in an additional $4 million.
The new fees are expected to take effect by February of next year.
Councillors said it is important for the department to tell the public exactly what the money from the airport improvement fee will be used for.
Bell and Coun. Julian Morse pointed out the airport needs a longer runway to accommodate international flights, which could increase the number of tourists visiting the city.
Among the improvements the Department of Transportation is proposing for the airport are more efficient services, including improved security facilities with shorter wait times, air terminal renovations, expanded and improved business services, increased parking spaces, better long-term parking options and a central de-icing facility. Department officials say the improvements would create jobs as well as making the airport more user-friendly. The department is to release a comprehensive business plan later this week, which is expected to outline $30 million in improvements over the next five years.
