Hamilton International Airport

[Hammer Town]

Pickering can go ahead with its new airport
Kevin Werner, Mountain

(May 4, 2007)
The federal Transportation Minister says growth patterns don't indicate holding back constructing the Pickering airport for the benefit of the Hamilton International Airport.

Lawrence Cannon refused to say this week during the launch of Hamilton International Airport's new airline flyglobespan at the Wartime Heritage Museum, the Conservative government will curtail the development of a new airport in Pickering.

"The studies have not indicated" that future economic and democratic growth is concentrating in the Golden Horseshoe and around the Hamilton area, he told reporters.

"(The Pickering option) is still there down the road," he said. "What we want to be able to do until we get there is to continue to develop and promote our policies and those polices obviously have positive steps and consequences."

He said once the demographic and economic studies "come to full fruition we will make the appropriate decision when the time comes."

For the last three years Hamilton officials and Hamilton International Airport representatives have been urging the federal government to quash the Pickering airport development and put more resources into the Hamilton Airport as the most viable secondary airport location in Southern Ontario.

They have pointed out that transportation, demographic and economic trends reveal a more viable airport in Hamilton.

The Ontario government in its "Places to Grow" document identifies Hamilton as a growth opportunity, city officials point out. It means funding will flow to develop the city's transportation options such as the airport.

Richard Koroscil, president and chief operating officer of TradePort International reiterated the airport's position that the federal government has to be made aware by the municipality that Hamilton International Airport is the most economically viable location compared to Pearson International Airport or to Pickering.






I dont this the pickering plan is viable at all unless they close Pearson which isn't going to happen. I see Pickering as another Mirabel. If they ever do build pickering it will be for far down the road that YHM should be established even more then it already is becoming.

As far as Terminal expasion at YHM I happened to be at the Press Confrence for FlyGlobespan and was actually able to ask Richard Koroscil a few questions as well as get a tour with a AIrport official of the terminal.

So Mr Koroscil mostly said its a build it as they come sort of this becuase they do want to announce a big terminal plan then have an airlines pull out or something similar Tehy look to ahve the Runway 24-06 and flight kitch as well as the fuel farm in place by 2012-2015

Well i was on the terminal tour it was just me so i kind of got the royal treatment. I was anything the public would see with out being a passenger except I go to go into the International arrivals area it just a very basic structure however he explained to me what it will look like once the finish the construction they are doing in there now they also had an artist rendition on the wall that looked quiet nice.

After they He went on to say that Hey plan to extand the departure lounge out more towards the ramp then enlarge the arrivals area for domestic and international. once they have done they will start to build up also in differant phases.

I think I have said all I can remember.