Hamilton, Ontario, airport upgrading runways

HAMILTON, Ont. – John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport will undergo an Airfield Rehabilitation and Modernization Project to fully restore its two main runways, supporting taxiways and lighting systems over the next four years, starting in 2019.

These projects will improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of airport operations, accelerate investment to accommodate the increasing use of larger wide-body aircraft for domestic and long-haul traffic to support current and future growth through Hamilton International.

“Modernization of Hamilton International’s runways, taxiways and lighting systems will ensure longevity of this critical infrastructure, and position the Airport to continue serving a strategic transportation and trade corridor, and the many businesses who rely on connections to port, train, major route highway and U.S. border routes to access new markets for Canadian imports and exports,” said president and CEO, Cathie Puckering.

“We look forward to completing these critical infrastructure improvements so that Hamilton International can continue to deliver on its vision to be the best global gateway in Canada for affordable travel and goods movement and continue to be a key economic contributor in our region.”

The investment in transportation infrastructure includes:

• Strengthen the Airport’s primary runway: Runway 12-30 is one of Southern Ontario’s longest runways, and investment will facilitate current and future heavy freighter traffic. Rehabilitation of instrument landing and low visibility systems will improve overall reliability.
• Strengthen the Airport’s secondary crosswind runway: Investments will be made to improve the efficiency of Runway 06-24, which serves as the alternative approach and departure path for diversion flights during inclement weather.
• Upgrade taxiways systems: The airfield’s support system of taxiways connecting to the runways will be upgraded to accommodate growing 24/7 aircraft operations.
• Upgrade airfield lighting: Advanced LED lighting technology will be implemented on the airfield to improve reliability, promote efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The total project cost is $38.89 million, and Transport Canada’s National Trade Corridor Fund (NTCF) will contribute $18.54 million, with the balance funded by airport operator TradePort International Corporation, as part of its capital investment plan. To minimize closures and interruption to existing 24/7 operations, airfield work will be completed in phases.

Hamilton International is an economic engine for the City of Hamilton and the surrounding region. Its latest Economic Impact Study demonstrated that in 2017, the Airport generated almost 3,500 jobs in the region (a 25 percent increase since 2013), labour income of $243 million, a GDP of $385 million and industry activity of $1.2 billion.

Through this new investment, these Airport projects will create more than 350 construction jobs, with an additional 863 full-time jobs to be created over the next five years, representing an additional $149 million in labour income. The Airport anticipates that the NTCF’s investment will facilitate approximately $2.1B in economic activity annually.

Hamilton International remains Canada’s largest overnight express cargo airport and hub for e-commerce. In the last two years, air cargo business has grown by 20 percent, while passenger traffic has experienced 118 percent growth to more than 725,000 passengers served in 2018.   Exceptional growth in both segments of its business and public/private investment towards invaluable airport infrastructure are clearly placing Hamilton International Airport in an optimal position to continue toward its company vision in being recognized by the world as the best global gateway in Canada for affordable travel and goods movement.