SAA President & CEO Named Chairman of CAC

Airline Update

Terminal Expansion Project

SAA Annual General Meeting

Cell Phone Parking Lot

National Volunteer Appreciation Week - Saluting our Airport Ambassadors

SAA Staff Retirees

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For additional information please visit our website www.yxe.ca

The Saskatoon Airport Authority is pleased to present the Spring 2010 edition of Air Strip, our e-newsletter, which delivers information about Saskatoon's Airport to our customers and community partners four times a year.

Airport Statistics

Air travel in Saskatchewan continues to set new records in the 1st quarter of 2010. Passenger traffic started strong with January showing an all-time record of 115,223 passengers and February continuing the trend with the second highest month on record of 109,147. March closed out the quarter, with just under 102,000 passengers passing through the terminal, making it the 4th consecutive month to surpass 100,000 passengers! Year to date we see a 6% increase over the first quarter of 2009.

Much of the increased traffic is due to our most extensive winter charter program ever with 18 weekly charters to warm destinations. Transborder traffic to the USA also increased by 17% due to added US destinations and increased flight frequencies.

Steady growth has been experienced for the last five years at the Saskatoon Airport. Monthly statistics show passenger traffic growth is up 52% over January of 2005 and 40% over February of 2005.

Passenger Traffic Passenger Statistics table

Saskatoon Airport Authority President & CEO Named Chairman of Canadian Airports Council (CAC)

Bill Restall

We congratulate Saskatoon Airport Authority President & CEO Bill Restall on his election as chairman of the CAC for a two year term. Bill has served on the board of the CAC since 2004 and as vice chair since 2008. Bill also serves as director of the Northwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (ACI-NA) and of the Saskatchewan Aviation Council.

		The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada’s airports. Its 49 members represent more than 200 airports in every province and territory of Canada. Together CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic, creating in excess of $45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. www.cacairports.ca

		Quicktrip is a convenient and easy to use tool available to anyone wishing to use the internet for their flight planning. The link can be found on the SAA website homepage at www.yxe.ca.

Air Service Updates

Our Airline partners continue to respond to the demands of the marketplace.

Air Canada Introduces Halifax Direct!

This maritime connection will be introduced in early May with a daily Ottawa/Halifax (same plane) routing. This flight will replace the current Ottawa/Montreal flight.
www.aircanada.com

West Jet – Las Vegas Direct Continues:

Las Vegas direct twice weekly flights will continue until mid-May and will begin again in late summer.
www.westjet.com

United Airlines Announces Changes to Chicago Flight:

Effective June 9 daily service to Chicago will now depart at 0730 out of Saskatoon and leave Chicago at 5 p.m. to arrive in Saskatoon around 8 p.m. A stop in Regina will also be included.
www.united.com

Delta Airlines Increases Daily Service to Minneapolis:

Delta Airlines is now operating four flights daily to Minneapolis.
www.delta.com

Transwest Airlines:

Transwest continues scheduled service to Fort McMurray three days a week.
www.transwestair.com

Pronto Airlines:

Effective April 19 Pronto Airways schedule includes Thursday departures out of Saskatoon to Rankin Inlet and Baker Lake.
www.prontoairways.com

Congratulations to Pronto Airways on receiving the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) Team Building Award at the 2010 NSBA Awards Gala in March.

Terminal Expansion Project

Increased passenger traffic has resulted in the Airport advancing the terminal and redevelopment project. Currently the ten-year, $85 million Airport capital program includes plans for a $30 million terminal expansion which is scheduled to begin the spring of 2011. The expansion will provide for additional retail and food/beverage concessions and passenger holding area post security screening. Plans for the terminal expansion can be found on the Saskatoon Airport Authority website at www.yxe.ca.

SAA President & CEO Bill Restall is available to speak to community organizations and groups regarding the terminal expansion. To make arrangements, contact Chad at the SAA office at 975-4108.

SAA Annual General Meeting

The 11th Annual General Meeting of the SAA was held on Wednesday, April 28 in the upstairs viewing area of the Saskatoon Airport Terminal. Over 90 people were in attendance. They took the opportunity to attend and see first-hand the preliminary design concepts for the terminal expansion.

Cell Phone Parking Lot

Picking up passengers from the Saskatoon Airport is easier now with the convenience of a FREE cell phone lot (click for map). Drivers can now park in the designated lot and wait in their car until their passenger has arrived, claimed their luggage and call to say they are ready to be picked up. Passengers are then picked up in the arrivals area of the terminal curbside at the Cell Phone Passenger Pick-Up sign.

National Volunteer Appreciation Week – Saluting our Airport Ambassadors

The Saskatoon Airport is fortunate to have a group of over 40 dedicated people who volunteer their time at the Airport. They can be found throughout the terminal providing information and assistance to users of our Airport.

Anyone interested in becoming a part of this friendly, enthusiastic group can contact the SAA office at 975-4952.

SAA Staff Retirees

The SAA bids farewell to two long-term airport employees and wish them both a long and happy retirement.

Doug Fahlgren

Doug Fahlgren – Manager Public Safety & Risk:

Doug Fahlgren will retire from the Saskatoon Airport Authority on May 31, 2010. Doug began his career at The Pas, Manitoba, as Airport Manager with Transport Canada in 1977. He later ventured to Saskatoon and served as Supervisor of Buildings with the Saskatoon Airport until 2002 after which he was promoted to Manager, Public Safety & Risk.

Peter Rempel

Peter Rempel – Airfield Maintenance Specialist:

Peter Rempel's career at the Saskatoon Airport began in July of 1976, working as a Heavy Equipment Operator on a seasonal basis. In 1979, he assumed full-time employment as an Airfield Maintenance Specialist until his retirement on April 30, 2010.