'The International Cargo Hub is a transformational development that will be the largest cargo expansion in the airport's history'

 

The new 47,000 m2 cargo apron expansion at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has been finished at the end of September. Could you share some more details on this development?

The expanded cargo area is equivalent to five and a half football fields and can hold six more widebody aircraft, such as four 747s or six 767s. It will allow the airport to accommodate more planes at once for loading and unloading. In 2021, YEG received an $18 million grant from the Government of Canada under the National Trades Corridor Fund to support a $36 million total expansion of cargo operations.The airport contributed the other 50 per cent of the required funding. The expanded cargo apron was constructed using sustainable concrete with CarbonCure technology in the production process.

Could you share some data on the past three years’ cargo throughput at the airport and the future outlook for cargo growth at Edmonton airport?

Over the past three years, Edmonton International Airport (YEG) saw a surge in activity from dedicated cargo operators looking for a freighter-friendly airport providing a high standard of uninterrupted service. The cargo capabilities at YEG became even more critical during the pandemic with the increased movement of Covid-19 rapid test kits, vaccines and other medical supplies to protect our community. Shipments of agri-food and e-commerce products have also increased.

In 2021, a record-setting tonnage of cargo of 48k tonnes moved through YEG, increasing by five per cent over 2020 (46k tonnes). As per the year-to-date figures, we are at 38k tonnes (14% growth). By the end of 2021, the overall cargo tonnage increased by 12.8 per cent over the pre-pandemic baseline, as YEG’s role in supporting cargo across North America increased. Furthermore, freighter tonnage increased by 18 per cent and cargo charter tonnage increased by 165 per cent over the pre-pandemic baseline. The increase in cargo tonnage is remarkable because passenger flights and associated belly-cargo capacity were still reduced from pre-pandemic levels. 2022 is trending to be another record year with cargo volumes growing by 14 per cent compared to last year.

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