The story of what has happened to many airports across Canada
also serves to demonstrate the changes in the air industry. As
there are more airlines offering affordable ticket prices, more
airports and ground transportation in urban centres are needed
to accommodate them. The recent history of the Edmonton airports
is a good example of the changing times.
Edmonton has been served since the 1920s by airfields and
facilities that are now part of the Edmonton City Centre
Airport. In the early 1960s, with urban development around the
airport, it was clear that future developments would have to be
placed in another location, and the Edmonton International
Airport was built south of the city.
When the International Airport was built, it was expected to
accommodate 2.5 million patrons a year, but by 2003, four
million passengers used it with over 90,000 flights. It is
expected that there will be about 5.5 million passengers using
the facilities by 2015. The result is that a new expansion of
airport facilities is in progress.
With the ongoing increase in air traffic at the Edmonton
airports, a referendum was held in 1995 asking if all passenger
services should be located at the International Airport. The
referendum showed that 77 percent of the population agreed it
In the fall of 1995, the Municipal Airport was leased for 56
years to Edmonton Airports, and in June 1996, its name was
changed to Edmonton City Centre Airport. Its role had changed,
providing a centre for general aviation, and was used by
corporate and private aircraft, training, medevac, aerospace,
military, and industrial personnel.
The consolidation of passenger service at the International
Airport started on 1 June 1996.
Edmonton City Centre Airport was renovated and saw an
increase in air traffic from about 90 to 180 aircraft a day in
1996. By 1998, the airport accommodated 80,000 passengers and
was ranked as the top general aviation airport in Canada.
Both the International Airport and the Edmonton City Centre
Airport have seen continuous improvements to their facilities
over the years as traffic increases.
A New Airfield – "Punch" Dickens
Punch Dickens tells how the Edmonton Municipal Airport was born, becoming the first municipally owned airfield in Canada.
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