First United Airlines flight to San Francisco will depart from Edmonton
Edmonton — Borrowing a page from Santa’s business plan, Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has recruited a team of holiday helpers to assist passengers with their holiday season travels.
“We know it’s going to be our busiest holiday season ever and we want to do all we can to make sure our customers get through the airport and to where they’re going as smoothly as possible,” says Edmonton Airports President and CEO Reg Milley.
EIA, the fastest growing airport in Canada, launched a Christmas Help Campaign in November to recruit temporary help over the holidays. Twenty-seven community members and two local amateur sports teams have signed up to help regular airport staff get passengers on their way.
Duties include helping passengers prepare for pre-board security screening, returning wheelchairs and luggage carts, assisting mobility-challenged passengers, assisting passengers with their luggage, helping to keep curbside traffic moving, and offering directions and other information as required.
Holiday helper will be easy to spot with their red sweatshirts and green “May-I-help-you-on-your-way” buttons.
In addition to the outside help, about 50 Edmonton Airports staff members have signed up to take on extra job duties over the holiday season. The airport’s Volunteer Airport Ambassadors (VAAs) are also geared up to lend a hand, some working extra shifts and others ready with a smile and prepared to be busier than usual.
“They are great ambassadors for our city and region,” says Milley. “Many of them have been helping out at the airport for more than 10 years. They are a real asset for us.”
Edmonton International Airport is also running a free holiday-season shuttle for airport employees from the nearby communities of Leduc and Devon, where many airport employees live. The shuttle runs three times per day from Dec. 1 — Jan. 10, 2007.
Approximately 17,000 passengers per day are expected at the international airport during peak periods — up 40 per cent compared with the 12,500 passengers that pass through EIA on an average winter day. This doesn’t include the thousands of people meeting and greeting passengers at the airport every day. The busiest days are expected to be just before Christmas, and just before and after New Year’s Day.
Edmonton Airports’ vision is: To be the North’s preferred gateway to the World, and the World’s preferred gateway to the North.
Further Information:
Edmonton Airports Corporate Communications
Jim Rudolph
Phone: (780) 890-8454
Cell: (780) 717-5117
E-mail: jrudolph@flyeia.com