New routes, more services, more awards – and a massage!
January 26, 2010 (Edmonton, Alta.) – Edmonton International
Airport (EIA) proudly looks back at 2009 and looks forward to more
in 2010.
• More routes: Liberia and Huatulco join the non-stop family; for
2010, scheduled service to Kamloops, and seasonal service to
Maui
• Houston-Continental: Daily non-stop service between EIA and
Houston
• US passenger growth: US passenger numbers surpass one million
mark in 2009
• Expansion 2012: $1-billion airport expansion program
continues
• US Passenger Lounge: Expanded lounge now almost double in
size
• Hudson Group: Leading airport-based news and specialty retailer
joins the EIA Team
• Parking: EIA continues to expand its parking products
• Ambience at EIA: Commitment to art, ambience and culture program
officially launched
• Awards: Alberta’s Top 50 Employers recognition and ACI-NA Peggy
Hereford Award win
More routes
With a family of more than 50 non-stop destinations, EIA is
currently enjoying the best air service in the region’s history and
a number of new routes were secured in 2009. New non-stops for that
vacation getaway include Liberia, Costa Rica and Huatulco, Mexico.
This year, WestJet has introduced year-round service to Cancun;
three-times weekly scheduled non-stop service to San Francisco and
Kamloops; and seasonal non-stop service to Maui once a week from
March 5 to April 4.
Houston-Continental
As of November 2009, EIA now has a daily non-stop flight to Houston
via Continental Airlines, the world’s fifth-largest airline.
Joining EIA’s 10-plus family of US non-stop destinations, the
Continental route addition is good news for businesses in the
energy sector. Houston is a major hub with excellent connections
that help businesses from across the region and Canada’s North
connect with global markets. It also provides leisure travellers
with a great range of destination options.
Passenger growth
For the first time ever, EIA’s US passenger numbers surpassed the
one million mark in 2009. The achievement can be credited to
important route additions like Houston-Continental and passenger
facilitation innovations like EIA’s own US Quick Connect and the
NEXUS card. Overall, EIA served 6.1 million passengers in 2009,
down 5.4 per cent from 2008.
Expansion 2012
EIA’s $1-billion airport expansion program is proceeding on time
and EIA is working hard to bring in the project under budget. Once
completed, Expansion 2012 is on track to achieve LEED
certification; expand the aircraft apron by more than two million
square feet; accommodate 13 aircraft bridges; expand EIA’s food,
beverage and retail offerings; and enable the airport to serve nine
million passengers annually.
US Passenger Lounge
EIA’s US passenger numbers have grown by double digits for the last
six years in a row. To keep pace, and as part of Expansion 2012,
the US Passenger Lounge was expanded in 2009. Now almost double in
size, the lounge also has new amenities, like the full-service
Molson Pub, Travelex foreign exchange, Runway Duty Free and Indigo
Bookstore carts.
Hudson Group
One of North America’s largest airport-based news and specialty
retailers, Hudson Group assumed operations of nine retail outlets
at EIA on December 14, 2009. Three of the nine existing outlets are
being completely renovated and two new Euro Cafe concepts paired
with Hudson News newsstands will come on stream by spring 2010. In
addition, a new Tech on the Go store with a Hudson News component
will be added to the retail offering by spring 2010. Hudson Group’s
expertise complements the ongoing development of EIA’s food,
beverage and retail offerings. Joining the EIA Team this year were
Chili’s, Wok Box, Molson Pub and A Flight of Wines and Spirits.
Providing a great way to relax while waiting for your flight,
Serenity Now Massage & Wellness is now open in the domestic
passenger lounge.
Parking
A new valet operator, Priority Valet & Concierge, joined the
EIA Team in 2009 offering a full range of concierge services in
addition to the valet product. Further enhancements to EIA’s
parking products will come on stream in 2010.
Ambience at EIA
Edmonton International Airport officially launched the Ambience at
EIA program in 2009, which highlights the airport’s commitment to
art, ambience and culture. Ambience at EIA is a component of the
airport’s Community Investment Program which continues to
strengthen ties with and support community organizations that
enhance the region’s quality of life. Key partnerships last year
included work with the 2009 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, TELUS
World of Science, Edmonton Public Schools, Chrysalis and the
Government of the Northwest Territories.
Awards
Our company received recognition this year as one of Alberta’s Top
50 Employers. We were specifically recognized for Health, Financial
& Family Benefits and Training and Skills Development. Looking
forward, we are now focused on becoming one of Canada’s Top 100
Employers. For the second year in a row, EIA was the recipient of
one of the airport industry’s most prestigious awards: Airports
Council International-North America’s Peggy Hereford Award for
overall Marketing and Communication Excellence. In addition to the
Hereford award, EIA took honours in seven award categories, with
four first place finishes including a big win for the very popular
Language of Speed destination marketing campaign.
On behalf of everyone at EIA, here’s to more for 2010!
Media Contact:
Traci Bednard
Communications
t: 780 890 8055
c: 780 909 9554