(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Airport getting $583K for customer-focused upgrades

Aug 4, 2021 | 11:40 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The federal government is giving millions of dollars to seven airports in the prairie regions, and Lethbridge is one of them.

Coming from Ottawa’s Regional Air Transportation Initiative, the Lethbridge Airport will receive a grant of $583,480.

“It is important to protect our regional air transportation ecosystems for the thousands of workers employed by this sector and for the many businesses and communities that depend on it,” says Economic Development Minister Melanie Joly. “We know that air connectivity to all regions is essential to healthy, inclusive economic growth, and supporting it is part of our plan to build back a stronger, more resilient economy.”

Mayor Chris Spearman says they will use this funding to put airport travellers first.

“Strengthening our Airport has been a priority for City Council. We know this is vital to the economic development of not just the City of Lethbridge but all of southern Alberta. We are extremely grateful to Western Economic Diversification Canada for this funding and for all of the grant funding we have received to date towards this important project for our community.”

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Key initiatives being supported through this grant include:

• Common Use Terminal System:
  • Install a common-use terminal system that Canada’s main air carriers already use at other airports. This will lower route start-up costs as airlines wouldn’t be required to provide and maintain terminal system equipment, provide tech support, or system upgrades
• Self-Check-In Kiosk System:
  • Provide passengers with access to boarding passes and bag tag services through the use of self-check in kiosks
• Baggage System Upgrade:
  • Upgrade the existing insert-only baggage system with a rotating baggage carousel. This will prevent bag jams during deplaning, free up baggage handlers to conduct faster aircraft turnarounds, lower operating costs for the airlines, and provide a better customer experience for public
• Powered Mobile Wheelchairs/Pushers:
  • Assist passengers with mobility challenges in getting on and off of airplanes. These units will also increase safety for both the passenger and airline staff
• Visual Passenger Paging System:
  • Install a visual paging system to assist passengers with hearing disabilities as well as passengers that may have been distracted and missed their message. This system will provide an additional layer of customer service and could help decrease delays and customer experience issues

Prior to this funding announcement, the city had used $2.6-million of its own to garner millions of dollars of additional investments from the provincial and federal governments. It was used for reducing safety risks, fast-tracking critical projects, and position the airport for pandemic recovery.

READ MORE: Lethbridge Airport receives $7.3M for improvements from feds

These upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of March 2022.