In 1914, Calgary’s first airport was a small grass strip and a hut (which doubled as both hangar and terminal), about 10 km northwest of downtown. As the city grew, the airport needed more capacity to serve the population. In response, the Calgary Municipal Airport at Renfrew was founded in 1928. Some of these hangars still exist and are used in the residential neighbourhood to this day.
In 1938, the airport moved once more to its present location in Calgary’s northeast. This new area was named McCall Field in honour of Captain Fred McCall, a World War I flying ace and one of Calgary’s pioneering aviators.
In 1940, the Federal Department of Transport took over the airport in order to serve the war effort. This meant an expansion up to four runways and five hangars. The airport returned to the City of Calgary in 1949, which promptly began planning and building a new terminal to meet the needs of the consistently growing city. This terminal opened in 1956, but the arrival of jet travel just five years later made the entire structure obsolete.
Lacking the resources for the necessary upgrades, the city sold the airport – now known as YYC Calgary International Airport – to Transport Canada in 1966, securing their commitment to spearhead its entry to the jet era. True to their word, Transport Canada launched an ambitious program of land acquisition and construction. In November 1977, another terminal building opened – the one we see today. The modern age of aviation had arrived in Calgary.
On July 1, 1992, The Calgary Airport Authority assumed responsibility for the operation and expansion of the airport. Over $4 billion has been invested since then to renovate and expand airport infrastructure. This includes a 14,000-foot (4.24 km) parallel runway, which opened in 2014 and is the longest in Canada. On October 31, 2016, the YYC Calgary International Airport opened its doors to the largest infrastructure project in its history – the renovated and modernized International Terminal.
Today, YYC is a world-class travel hub, committed to creating positive, engaging experiences for guests and setting the best standards for the industry. The airport has 185 shops, restaurants and services, as well as two Delta and Marriott hotels with over 600 rooms. The two terminals have eight children’s play areas and Spaceport, a space-themed visitor attraction. More than 24,000 people work in, with and around the airport, while millions of people pass through our doors each year. Added up, The Calgary Airport Authority is a major contributor to the prosperity of the Calgary region with a total GDP impact of $8 billion.
We’re ready to continue creating world-class experiences totally unique to YYC. We’ll build on a proud tradition of amazing service and make every guest’s next visit better than the last.