Edmonton International Airport (EIA/YEG)

[BrettB]

Airports spend years forecasting and planning for future needs - despite shocks, aviation is a fairly predictable business. The current facility is more than enough for the coming years with gate, runway, and taxiway capacity to spare.

Pay down some of that debt - modernize/update where and when you can - make the arrivals area a bit more passenger-friendly - improve the public transit area so you're not on a small island to wait for a bus - and you have a facility that serves the needs of Edmonton for now and the coming years.

 

[David A]

I appreciate that passenger growth is not at the point where major upgrades are required yet, but I hope that does not mean nothing is done in the meantime.

There are a number of things that can and should be done now.

 

[Markyeg]

I’d like to see a refresh of the North side of the domestic/international terminal so that it’s more in sync with the south end and transborder areas. But most of those gates are currently being used by the regional carriers and Flair so I don’t see that being a top priority in the near term.

 

[Offworld]

Was in the terminal last Sunday and was frankly amazed at the number of people walking up down the terminal. Felt like a real going concern for a moment there.

 

[MacLac]

If

Agree, I don't know what kind of borrowing capacity is reasonable for them. If i understand the financials from the 2024 report it looks like they have around 1 Billion in long term debt on the books.

Compared to YYC’s 3+ Billion?

 

[ChazYEG]

Population growth does NOT = PAX if you do not have the capacity.

Well, the terminal currently DOES have the capacity, so I don't see the issue here. Nevertheless, population growth does tend to increase PAX, even if not in the same proportion of the growth, unless you have an alternative that is close enough to capture the overflow in demand, which is not Edmonton's case, since YYC is still well over 2hrs away, which is not close enough for most people to go there for shorter flights (not many people will drive 2+ hrs to YYC for a flight that's 3-4hrs)

 

[David A]

Well, the terminal currently DOES have the capacity, so I don't see the issue here. Nevertheless, population growth does tend to increase PAX, even if not in the same proportion of the growth, unless you have an alternative that is close enough to capture the overflow in demand, which is not Edmonton's case, since YYC is still well over 2hrs away, which is not close enough for most people to go there for shorter flights (not many people will drive 2+ hrs to YYC for a flight that's 3-4hrs)

Yes, unless all the people moving here are not going to travel, there will be some natural increase in passengers as Edmonton and area grows. I believe the current airport terminal has the capacity for this growth for some years.

I feel most people would prefer not to have to connect or drive to Calgary, another two hours drive (or a short flight with waits in two airports) does add a lot of time to a trip and for bigger ones can make for a very long day.

 

[BASE]

If

Compared to YYC’s 3+ Billion?

I wasn't aware of theirs although understood they had a fairly sizeable chunk from their more recent reno. If we go by per passenger amount (unsure on the comparison for non aeronautical revenues) they would reasonably be expected to carry 2x-2.5x the debt of YEG but hard to compare as their future needs may be on a different time horizon than YEG.

The flow and layout at YYC isn't great but I suspect they are probably out of major expansion/reno mode for the next little while.

Had a quick search and this article is older now but still relevant looks like Edmonton isn't doing too bad in the debt/passenger department so it would be reasonable to think they have room to take on some projects in the 10s to 100s of millions but maybe not the massive projects which aren't necessarily in the discussion anyways.

 

[MacLac]

Couple of things to note: in all my years I have NEVER seen the domestic side this crowded with peeps ever!!! Every gate from 49 to 74 was packed! KLM has moved from Gate 64 to 68….first time I have ever seen this. Strange to see WJ Kelowna on a 737 and on a regular gate as opposed to Gate 49. Prince George WJ (brand new flight) also on a regualr gate as opposed to 49. Haven’t seen much or any action at all from 50 AC.Used to be between 50 and 52 All YYZ, YVR and YUL from those gates. AC YVR to Gate 70 on a CRJ is a strange sighting.

 

[TAS]

Couple of things to note: in all my years I have NEVER seen the domestic side this crowded with peeps ever!!! Every gate from 49 to 74 was packed! KLM has moved from Gate 64 to 68….first time I have ever seen this. Strange to see WJ Kelowna on a 737 and on a regular gate as opposed to Gate 49. Prince George WJ (brand new flight) also on a regualr gate as opposed to 49. Haven’t seen much or any action at all from 50 AC.Used to be between 50 and 52 All YYZ, YVR and YUL from those gates. AC YVR to Gate 70 on a CRJ is a strange sighting.

What's the significance of KLM moving from gate 64 to 68? More seating by the gate? Or more check in counter space?

 

[MacLac]

That's what I'm thinking - probably at Gate 64 till this time was because of the "Heineken Lounge," but since that closed 5 years ago(?), it stayed there with very little seating as it shares a tiny little seated area with Gate 62, with Gate 62 being rarely used it was ok, but today every gate had a plane and a packed seating associated seating area.....little ol' me was just flying to Firebag - usually out of Gate 68 or 70.

 

[Offworld]

Couple of things to note: in all my years I have NEVER seen the domestic side this crowded with peeps ever!!! Every gate from 49 to 74 was packed! KLM has moved from Gate 64 to 68….first time I have ever seen this. Strange to see WJ Kelowna on a 737 and on a regular gate as opposed to Gate 49. Prince George WJ (brand new flight) also on a regualr gate as opposed to 49. Haven’t seen much or any action at all from 50 AC.Used to be between 50 and 52 All YYZ, YVR and YUL from those gates. AC YVR to Gate 70 on a CRJ is a strange sighting.

AC still uses 50-52 a lot, unfortunately. It'd be ok if they were flying a tiny plane to those gates. Instead they bring in A320s and the like and the resultant bottlenecking in the terminal gets worse and worse. Terminal staff put up with a lot of clueless people that line up in that area and block traffic, especially motorized carts. And instead the airport spends its time piping a welcome to Edmonton recording by the mayor. #priorities

 

[Glenco]

That's what I'm thinking - probably at Gate 64 till this time was because of the "Heineken Lounge," but since that closed 5 years ago(?), it stayed there with very little seating as it shares a tiny little seated area with Gate 62, with Gate 62 being rarely used it was ok, but today every gate had a plane and a packed seating associated seating area.....little ol' me was just flying to Firebag - usually out of Gate 68 or 70.

AMS is back to gate 64. So much for all the theories

 

[edm13]

Booked a trip to Vegas for September. Booked a connecting flight through Vancouver on the way there, as the only direct with westjet was at 7am. And then a direct flight home. But they just cancelled the direct flight home and now forcing a connection through Calgary. So probably speaks to lack of demand given that was the only return flight that day also

 

[MacLac]

Booked a trip to Vegas for September. Booked a connecting flight through Vancouver on the way there, as the only direct with westjet was at 7am. And then a direct flight home. But they just cancelled the direct flight home and now forcing a connection through Calgary. So probably speaks to lack of demand given that was the only return flight that day also

Is 7am departure a "bad thing?" I've never heard of getting to Vegas "early in the day" as being terrible....quite advantageous if you can get it. Wife and daughter got a killer deal in Sep at Mandalay Bay.....on that "terrible 7 am departure." lol. Direct on both ways....