Fredericton International Airport was built in 1949 and began operations in 1951. The airport is located in Lincoln, New Brunswick, Canada. It is the second-busiest airport in Canada, accommodating 270,435 passengers in 2008.
Following privatisation in 2001, the airport was officially transferred to the Greater Fredericton Airport Authority (GFAA) from the previous owner, Transport Canada. In 2007, the airport received its international designation as YFC (also represented as ‘your Fredericton connection’).
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GFAA oversaw the airport’s operational activities until 2009. Since 2009, the airport has been operated by the Fredericton International Airport Authority (FIAA), which was established under part II of the Canada Corporations Act. Under the terms of the act, FIAA will manage, operate and develop the airport. The premises have been leased by FIAA from Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.
The airport serves the air transport needs of Canadian Forces Base, Gagetown, Capital Airways, Forest Protection Limited, Moncton Flight College located on Fredericton campus. Air Canada, Air Transat, Transat Holidays (Canjet) and Sunwing also use the airstrip. A few Canadian helicopters are also based here.
Runways
Fredericton Airport has two runways, 6,000ft and (originally) 8,005ft in length, the second runway being the longest in New Brunswick. The longest runway was further expanded to 8,010ft in 2002.
Fredericton terminal features
The terminal building houses a restaurant and lounge, a gift shop, car rental stations and self-service check-in kiosks. There is a business centre which has a computer lab with internet facility and telephone services. Free wireless internet service is also available.
The terminal building was expanded by 750m² in 2002 and was fitted with new security equipment including an explosives detection system (EDS) in 2004. In 2005, construction of a multiuse pavilion, a space at the end of the air terminal building, was completed along with the upgrade of interior public space. The pavilion covers an area of 8,500ft² and is used for arrivals, and military and other functions. Refurbishment of the airport terminal with a New Brunswick theme was completed in 2005. Finishing touches to the multipurpose pavilion building, interior terminal renovations and general maintenance were completed in 2006.
In 2009, a C$22m renovation project was conceived by the FIAA to expand the terminal building in line with the Atlantic Gateway initiatives. The Atlantic Gateway is an integrated transportation network located in Canada’s east coast provinces. The project involved renovation and expansion of the current terminal building to 6,800m² to improve passenger volumes in future. FIAA is expected to begin the design phase of the renovation project shortly. Federal government aid is expected to fund the project.
A feasibility study was conducted by LPS Avia Consulting in 2009 for assessing the expansion needs of the airport. LPS Avia Consulting is an air transport consulting firm based in Ottawa.
Check-in
Various check-in options are available at YFC. Designated check-in counters are provided for international flights. For Air Canada flights, the options include check-in through mobile device, in person, online at or self-service kiosks. Customs clearance for inbound passengers is done as passengers exit the aircraft.
Parking
300 parking lots are available at the airport with long and short-term parking facilities. There are 56 short-term metered parking lots and ample long-term parking options.
The parking apron at the airport is about 5,400m² in length. The apron is used for refuelling and to conduct various maintenance works. The parking apron was expanded in 2002to accommodate ten new hangars for private aircraft.
The Canadian Government provided C$2.7m for the apron development. The apron expansion works were executed by the Canadian real estate development company Clayco Construction in a C$1.03m contract.
Air traffic control
Fredericton International Airport does not have an air traffic control (ATC) tower. In May 2009, NAV Canada conducted a feasibility study and determined the need for an ATC tower at the airport. NAV Canada is the governing body of Canada’s civil air navigation service (ANS). Construction of the tower will begin on 17 December 2009, and will be completed in phases.
Baggage handling systems
The airport has a baggage belt in the international arrivals area. The baggage belt is located in the multipurpose pavilion and is fully functional. The baggage system provides ease of use to the baggage handlers as they can load baggage directly. The air terminal building accommodates a second luggage belt near the arrivals zone in the 750m² expanded area.
Affiliations
Fredericton Airport is affiliated to Canada’s National Airport System (NAS). NAS is the national authority in which all airports with annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more are included.
The airport was designated an official airport of entry by NAV Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA is a government agency responsible for border security and customs.
