FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Federal government announces $50 million investment
QUÉBEC CITY AIRPORT: AMBITIOUS PROJECTS TO PURSUE OUR ASCENSION
March 16, 2011 – The President and CEO of Aéroport de Québec inc., Mr. Gaëtan Gagné is very pleased with the announcement today of a $50 million investment by Canada’s Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, who was accompanied by the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie.
« The Québec City Airport has seen significant growth and our potential for future development is tremendous. In order to fully develop this potential, we must create conditions to accommodate this exceptional passenger growth. If the trend continues, the number of passengers in 2015 will be 1.5 million and over 2 million in 2020. The Québec City Airport needs the infrastructure and efficient airport services to meet the demand,” said Gaëtan Gagné, President and CEO.
Stimulating Developmental Projects
The Federal government’s investment announcement today opens the door to the first stage of the second phase of the Québec City Jean Lesage Airport’s expansion project. Totalling $225 million and planned until 2015-2016, this stage includes, more particularly, the expansion of the international sector, including relocations which will allow for the expansion of the apron, the addition of passenger loading bridges, the construction of a multi-level parking facility and a hotel as well as a de-icing center. The Québec City Airport plans to meet the extraordinary growth demand by developing its potential and thus remain one of the region’s major economic levers.
The Québec City Airport plans to actively participate in the financing of these projects by assuming most of the related costs.
Over the past four years, the Québec City Airport has seen a dramatic increase in traffic of 52%. In 2010, 1,200,000 passengers travelled from the airport, an increase of 15%. Since the beginning of the year, this growth has continued with a 19% increase in passengers.
The Québec City Airport has become, over the past years, a source of pride for the citizens of the region. I would like to thank the Federal Government for having, once again, recognized the essential role we play in the region’s economic development”, said Gaëtan Gagné.
Since November 1, 2000, the Québec City Airport has been responsible for the management, operation, maintenance and development of the Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Approximately a dozen carriers offer multiple connections to various destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe, 50 direct flights a day to major cities in Eastern Canada and the United States, such as Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, New York, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia and over 40 chartered flights a week to sun destinations as well as Paris, Bordeaux and Marseille.
PASSENGER FIRST
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SOURCE :
Jonathan Trudeau
Director, Communication
Aéroport de Québec
Tel. : 418 640-2700, ext. 2625