Passengers flying out from Vancouver will be paying 25 per cent more in airport improvement fees by May to fund $1.8 billion in upgrades spread over the next decade. The fee will jump to $20 from $15 for improvements that Vancouver Airport Authority CEO Larry Berg said will make YVR the “gateway of choice between Asia and North America”.
By 2015, Berg said the process of getting through YVR will be cut from 90 minutes to under an hour, making connection times and baggage collection faster and easier.
He said that even with the hike, the fee is still among the lowest in the world with most major airports charging $25, and he is not concerned passengers may opt for cheaper flights out of nearby Seattle.
“Most of those flights tend to be to the sun spots,” he said. “What we’re dealing with here is a strategy to attract international long-haul carriers that show up with 300 passengers onboard — that’s what we want. We see tremendous opportunity there and particularly out of China.”
The first projects to be rolled out at YVR will include more than 700 metres of moving walkways, high-speed baggage systems, runway safety enhancement and upgrades to the 1968 domestic terminal.
The Airport Improvement Authority said the last fee increase was in 2004 and since its introduction in 1993, the fee has contributed towards building the international terminal, roads, bridges and a new runway.
Berg said surveys have shown that passengers have been happier paying increased fees if they lead to a more modern airport.
Premier Christy Clark tweeted that the 10-year plan will create 1,600 jobs and protect 23,000 more currently in place at the airport.
“I’d like to commend Vancouver Airport Authority for its long-term vision in keeping YVR competitive in the fastest growing market in the world,” Clark said in a release.
