The West Kootenay Regional Airport is receiving $1.6 million in provincial funding to improve the airport’s aviation apron.
The funding is part of an $11 million investment through the BC Air Access Program announced by the province on April 2. This year the funding will support 26 projects at two dozen regional airports.
Airport manager Maciej Habrych said the funding will top up a $2.35 million Transport Canada grant that the city received in 2023.
Costs for the apron project came in higher than expected and Habrych says this funding will bridge that financial gap.
The improvements will enlarge the existing footprint of the apron to safely accommodate multiple Q400-sized planes at a time. This will prevent flight delays and increase efficiency and capacity for simultaneous operations, including when the Southeast Fire Centre has active aviation operations underway.
Preparation work has begun with the relocation of fuel tanks with construction expected to begin this summer.
Elsewhere in the West Kootenay, the Creston Valley Regional Airport received $35,000 to create an airport master plan and the Trail Regional Airport received $19,747 for trimming treetops around the airport.
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