Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport, Canada

Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport is located 5.6km northwest 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 serves about one million passengers and records 85,000 aircraft movements a year. It also handles cargo.

Expansion of Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport

SAA plans to construct a new terminal by 2014. The new terminal will be built under SAA's $105m capital spending programme. It is expected to increase passenger handling capacity to 2.2 million a year.

Tenders for construction are expected to be released by early 2012. Construction of the terminal will be completed in phases spanning 26-28 months.

Terminal features at the Canadian international airport

The airport has a single terminal with a total floor space of 110,000ft2. It was opened in 1975 and replaced an older terminal built in 1955. The old terminal now serves as the operations building.

The terminal was 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 annually.

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 2,530 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 bus 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.