The Calgary Airport Authority Announces Airport Improvement Fee Increase

February 22, 2007   |  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
February 22, 2007
 
Calgary, Alberta – The Calgary Airport Authority announced today that effective June 1, 2007, the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) will increase by five dollars for each originating and departing, non-connecting, passenger at Calgary International Airport.
 
The ‘Alberta short-sector’ AIF, applicable to flights destined to Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Lloydminster, will increase from the current $10 to $15. The AIF for all other flights will increase from $15 to $20.
 
Passenger volumes at Calgary have increased 43 percent in the past four years with an increase of 11 percent, or one million additional passengers, in 2006. Additionally, Calgary’s unprecedented building boom, and its impact on construction costs, has also greatly impacted funding requirements for current and pending facility expansion projects.
 
The Calgary Airport Authority has invested $805M in capital projects since assuming responsibility for Calgary International Airport in 1992, with $600M funded from the Airport Improvement Fee. In addition, the Authority has paid $274M to the Government of Canada in lease payments or ‘airport rent tax’ as it is known in Canada’s aviation industry. The Authority expects to pay a total of $2.9 billion in Rent Tax over the 60-year term of the current ground lease.
 
“Our corporation is committed to meeting the needs of travellers, shippers and other users of Calgary International Airport, as well as prudently managing our debt burden in this continuing environment of high growth and high construction costs,” stated Garth Atkinson, President and CEO of the Authority. “The five dollar increase to our AIF will help position the Authority to meet its fundamental role of keeping Calgarians connected to the world.”
 
The Calgary Airport Authority is a not-for-profit, non-share capital corporation incorporated under Provincial legislation responsible for the operation, development and management of Calgary International Airport and Springbank Airport under long-term lease from the Government of Canada.
 
 
For more information:     Bryce Paton, Media Line (403) 735-5899