Airport terminals in 5 communities should be ready in December: Minister
New terminals are three times the size of the ones they are replacing
Rankin Inlet’s new airport terminal, photographed in August 2024. It’s anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. (Photo by Arty Sarkisian)
After a one-year delay, five of Nunavut’s six airport terminal buildings currently under construction will be completed and ready for travellers in December.
David Akeeagok, the minister of economic development and transportation, made the announcement Tuesday in the legislative assembly.
“I look forward to seeing all these terminal buildings complete and in operation and hope to have an opportunity to celebrate their openings with my colleagues and community residents,” he said.
The new terminals are being constructed in Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Naujaat, Kugluktuk, Kimmirut and Rankin Inlet.
The work is being funded by the Government of Nunavut and the federal National Trade Corridors Fund, which supports infrastructure projects across Canada.
The Rankin Inlet project is the biggest and most expensive, at a cost of nearly $85 million. It received $63.5 million from the corridors fund and the GN will cover the rest at roughly $21.5 million.
That’s the only project anticipated to be completed later, in the first quarter of 2025, Akeeagok said in an interview.
The total combined cost for the other five smaller projects is $75.5 million, split nearly evenly between the GN and the corridors fund.
In 2020, the Government of Nunavut’s goal was to finish the terminals by 2023. But the projects were retendered because initial bids came in over budget, which caused a delay.
All the new terminals will significantly improve the airports in the communities, Akeeagok said at the legislature.
The buildings they will replace were constructed more than 40 years ago.
The interiors of the existing buildings and their mechanical and electrical systems are all at or near the end of their life cycle, and none are equipped with emergency or standby electrical systems, said John Hawkins, assistant deputy minister of transportation, in an email.
At the same time, the populations in the communities have doubled in the past 40 years and continue to grow.
In most communities, the new terminals are approximately three times the size of the existing ones.
The new buildings will be more accessible for people with disabilities and be equipped with standby electrical generators to provide electricity during a power failure, Hawkins said.
Should of Paved the runways first terminal was the least of the problem in most communities. Then jets can come in cheaper flights and cheaper food and hopefully some competition to bring the cost of flights down. Cart before the horse maybe.
And what is TN doing to advance this “1 billion dollar” industry? besides put forward plans they have no authority of changing in the first place?
That’s a good point, paving the runways also helps to keep the cost for maintenance down on the planes, that would make flying a bit cheaper for the north,
But when one airport in Rankin inlet cost $85 million that probably made it too expensive for other communities to get paved runways.
Sounds very expensive for that one airport, hopefully it’s practical and beautiful for that cost.
Good point; Rankin, Iqaluit and CamBay are always over-rated. They must have the best in Nunavut, snobbish you might say. And yet, a downward spiral, total chaos into the abyss of social structure. Baker Lake drunkest and ARV being the druggist in Nunavut.
This will, no doubt, come as a surprise to people in Cambridge Bay who are used to being ignored so Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet can get stuff.
Man the rest of Nunavut sure gets a little tired of some cry babies from your region, always playing a victim, your towns are smaller, less people, yet you want just as much as Iqaluit or Rankin.
Put some work into it if you want something, continually playing victim is getting old Kit.
RNkin also has an FOL site there that could have required extra costs as well.
Totally agree with you. Planes and pilots should be first for the safety of all of us. Pave that runway.
Just paving the runways will not result in jet service. a 737 will require a certain width and length, and this is not a given in most communities
They will not fly a jet in to communities for the potential of 3 passengers getting on or off. Not cost effective. Passenger revenue for airlines is greater than cargo revenue.
Over the decades I have heard many promises and assumptions about how improving runways will result in lower costs for consumers. Believe me, costs have never gone DOWN, regardless of improvements to runways. Like everything else, once prices go UP they NEVER come DOWN.
$85 million for a seacan looking airport? Wow!
It looks nice from the front, very cool, modern design.
Not enough food. Let them eat cake! Not enough housing. Let them live in airport buildings!
If Kimmirut’s terminal had been finished at the time of the recent prolonged power outage, people could have gone there to warm up since it will have a backup generator. In the worst case scenario a few dozen people could shelter there while waiting for evacuation.
WE want it all, and WE Want it now,7new terminal buildings , Boohoo , those cheap taxpayers in the south, send us more money to complain about , WE don’t get enough.
Drop the cargo and see how quick your existing passenger service reduces.
No one comes in without cargo to support the re venue.base.
If they did your airfare would be a lot higher.