Victoria International Airport is located 22km from North Saanich city in British Columbia, Canada. It is owned by Transport Canada. Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) was leased the airport in 1997 to operate the site for 60 years.
The airport handled 1.51 million passengers and recorded 144,255 aircraft movements in 2010.
Recommended White Papers
Recommended Buyers Guides
Master plan for Victoria International Airport
The master plan of the airport, prepared in February 2008, envisaged the development of the airport in two decades from 2005 to 2025.
It recommended the airport development plan for 20 years, which included airfield development, landside development and terminal development.
The development was phased into three periods. The one to five year development plan includes apron IV expansion, extension of runway lighting by 320m, construction of a full parallel taxiway E for runway 09/27 and provision of additional public parking at the terminal building.
The six to ten year development plan includes upgrading the lighting at runway 9, decommissioning taxiway D, apron IV expansion to the north, construction of new taxiways and first phase of terminal expansion.
The last phase of the development plan from 11 to 20 years includes construction of US pre-clearance and new Canadian customs facilities, expansion of the north concourse terminal, construction of a car parking structure and expansion of 09/27 runway by 427m (1,400ft).
Expansions of the Canadian international airport
VAA approved the design for realignment of Willingdon Road in 2011. The project includes construction of a 1.4km new road, new roundabout, new side walks and new bicycle lanes. The realignment provides the additional space required for the expansion of long term parking facilities at the airport. Construction began in July 2011 and is expected to be completed by November 2011. The project was proposed in the Airport Master Plan for 2007.
The runway 09/27 expansion project was initiated in 2009.
VAA completed the final design of the expansion in 2010. The project includes expanding the runway by 1,457ft.
VAA is in contact with provincial and federal governments regarding the funding of the project.
The $1.86m contract for aircraft apron expansion was awarded to Knappett Construction in July 2000.
The seven stage terminal building expansion was initiated in October 2000. The cost of the project was $21m. The expansion was phased over two years. It included addition to west baggage claim, construction of a new holdroom, baggage handling and check-in areas.
Terminal features
The airport has a single passenger terminal. The three-storey terminal building has 12 gates, two airbridges and 11 aircraft stands. Gates one to five handle international passenger arrivals while gates nine and ten are used for aircraft loading bridges.
The terminal has three luggage carousels, two of which are meant for domestic arrival passengers and one, located next to customs, for the international passengers. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the terminal.
Other facilities at the terminal include a bank, bureau de change, restaurants, cafeterias, bars, duty free shop, gift shop, tourist help desk, car rental offices, taxi service and facilities for the disabled.
The airport has one cargo terminal which has a bonded warehouse with a capacity of 900t.
Runways at Victoria
The airport has three runways paved with asphalt. The first runway (09/27) is 2,133m in length. The second runway (02/20) is 1,532m long. The third runway (13/31) is 1,524m in length.
The fixed base operators (FBOs) at the airport include Shell Aerocentre, Vancouver Island Helicopters (VIH) and Viking Air.
Ground transportation
The ground transportation facilities at the airport include a shuttle bus service to and from downtown hotels. BC Transit provides bus services from McTavish Transit to other places. Yellow Cab of Victoria provides taxi services and Akal provides shuttle services.
The airport has 170 short-term and 1,117 long-term parking spaces.
