Speakers from the Northwest Territories government announced stages of upgrades across airports in the territory that aim to improve access for industries that rely on these airstrips for tourism, logistics, mining, defence and healthcare at a conference in Whitehorse.
The Northern Air Transport Association (NATA) brought together aviation professionals, government officials and private sector representatives in Whitehorse for its annual conference and trade show, held at the Sternwheeler Hotel in Whitehorse from April 28 to 30.
The N.W.T. government provided updates on improvements at several of the government's 27 airport, including Inuvik’s airport, the Wekweètì airport in the North Slave region, the Sambaa K’e airport in the Dehcho region, the Fort Smith airport in the South Slave region and the Gamètì/Rae Lakes airport in the North Slave region.
“Most of our sites are maintained through community contracts and we provide training for local teams to carry out airport maintenance,” said Kevin Dragon, director of air, marine and safety at the Northwest Territories government.
Dragon told audiences at the NATA conference that upgrades to N.W.T.'s airports are designed to enhance the airports' operating capacity and safety. The N.W.T. government stated that these improvements would benefit the communities and industries that have depended on these vital transport links for decades.
On Jan. 19, 2023, the Canadian Department of National Defence announced an $80-million investment to extend the Inuvik airport runway from 6,000 to 9,000 feet. The extension would allow heavy military aircraft such as the CC-130H Hercules and CC-177 Globemaster III to land in Inuvik. The runway extension would also allow larger wide-body civilian aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 to land in Inuvik as well.
Dragon told aviation stakeholders that the runway extension is still an ongoing project without an estimated completion date, despite an initial 2027 date being set back in 2023. He told conference attendees that the embankment must still reach a certain elevation and that the territorial government is waiting for settlements before paving the runway can begin.
“Currently, the embankment must be placed at a specific elevation, but we are waiting on settlements before paving. There’s an agreed delay of one year,” Dragon said.
The Inuvik terminal building is also due to be upgraded as part of the territorial government's initiatives to modernize and upgrade the region's accessibility by air. Dragon told attendees that the design stage has been completed and that the territorial government is awaiting a response on a new funding application to the federal government to complete terminal building upgrades.
The Department of Infrastructure is currently updating the construction cost estimates and securing the additional financial investment needed to advance this project.
“We have submitted a new funding application to the federal government, which is currently under review, so we’re hoping for an answer soon,” Dragon said.
A list of 2025-26 initiatives to modernize and upgrade airports across the N.W.T. included projects to make safety improvements to the terminal buildings at the Wekweètì and Sambaa K’e airports, as well as improving winter road access to the Gamètì/Rae Lakes Airport. Additionally, the N.W.T. announced that the government is working on an airport development plan for Fort Smith, as well as plans to repair the runway.
In a statement on June 26, 2024, Caroline Wawzonek, minister of infrastructure for N.W.T., highlighted the importance of these projects.
"The N.W.T.’s 27 airports are the lifeline of the North, connecting communities, moving people and essential goods, providing access to critical services like healthcare and are crucial during emergencies and evacuations for both residents and responders."
The Yellowknife airport has seen passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic levels, but runway maintenance projects are in the pipeline to support regular passenger travel. Dragon said that the N.W.T. government has tendered out the designs and that work on maintaining the runway is scheduled to begin next year.
Yellowknife is using its revolving fund to make several airport improvements, including a geotechnical study on both runways to address and repair issues related to runway movement due to climate change. Accessibility upgrades have been made inside the terminal building, including pet relief stations and hearing induction loops.
A tar machine and a rapid intervention vehicle were also purchased in 2024. Upcoming upgrades to the Yellowknife airport include replacing airport seating in the food court and arrivals B areas, a new passenger processing system for airlines, preboard screening upgrades and asphalt overlays on two taxiways.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
