Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport is located 5.6km north-west of Saskatoon, Canada. The airport was opened in 1928 and was originally known as the Saskatoon Airport. In 1993, it was renamed after John Diefenbaker, the former prime minister of Canada. The airport is owned by Transport Canada and operated by Saskatoon Airport Authority (SAA).
The airport served more than 1.48 million passengers in 2014, which represented 6.8% growth in 2013, and has 91,686 aircraft movements during the year.
Recommended White Papers
Recommended Buyers Guides
Expansion of Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
SAA constructed a new terminal under a $53m expansion project to increase passenger handling capacity to 2.2 million a year.
Terminal construction started in early 2012 and phase I was completed in 2013. Phase two was completed in April 2015 marking the full completion of the project.
A road construction project to ease congestion and improve traffic flow was completed in 2014 at a cost of $2.25m.
Terminal features at the Canadian international airport
The passenger terminal was opened in 1975 and replaced an older terminal built in 1955. The old terminal now serves as the operations building. Following the recent expansion, the terminal has doubled in size and features new security scanning areas, and refreshments outlets such as Starbucks and Refuel.
The new terminal was designed by Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture. CLIPSO Group supplied acoustic ceilings for the main hall of the new terminal.
The terminal was previously upgraded under an $18.565m redevelopment programme. Construction of the project started in February 2001 and completed in two phases. The first phase was completed in December 2001 and the second in October 2002. It included expansion of the terminal to accommodate 1.4 million passengers a year.
The terminal features 34 check-in desks, nine gates, nine aircraft stands, three baggage conveyors, six airbridges and four aircraft ground loading positions. It also features restaurants, cafeterias, bars, a duty free shop, tourist help desk, car rental, baby / parent room, disabled access / facilities and business centre.
A $5.2m hold baggage screening project was completed in December 2005. It included security screening integration of all checked baggage, expansion of airline check-in counters and bag make-up areas. It was jointly funded by SAA and Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).
Apron I of the airport was expanded in September 2009. The project involved infilling 2,064m2 of concrete on apron I.
It also included construction of west side areas of apron to create more space for aircraft operations and expansion of the de-icing facility.
Pryde Schropp McComb (PSMI) was awarded a $5m contract to provide planning, engineering and project management services for the project.
The airport has two cargo terminals with a storage capacity of 20,000t.
ATC (air traffic control) tower
The airport has an air traffic control (ATC) Tower built by Nav Canada in 2000.
Runways at Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
The airport has two runways paved with asphalt. The first runway (09/27) is 2,530m and the second (15/33) is 1,890m long.
Runway 09/27 was renovated by Graham Construction under a $16m contract awarded in May 2008. The project included installation of high-intensity approach lighting and restoration of the taxiway.
Maintenance facilities
Esso and Shell Aerocentre are the fixed base operators (FBOs) at the airport, which provide itinerant aircraft refuelling, temporary parking, emplaning and deplaning.
It is also equipped with category six aircraft rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) services.
The airport is served by Saskatoon Transit services, which runs buses on two full service routes to the airport. Taxi services are provided by United Blueline Cabs.
Local hotels provide shuttle services to the airport. There are also limousine services.
The airport has more than 1,100 long-term parking spaces located outside the terminal building.
Short-term parking is designated at the two front rows of the public parking space.
