Quote:
Originally Posted by SkydivePilot
I was through there a couple days ago, it looks fantastic! Regina has some serious challenges ahead if it wants to rival this. Moreover, YXE is easily expandable to the NE as well and 'has a future contingency plan for when it is required.
Also, the preboarding security area is currently being relocated as we speak.
|
I agree about further expansion. It is so obvious from the existing new design. They would just add another wing to the north that mirrors the new one to the southwest, and have an instant 40% increase in gate capacity. The new security area can easily handle that much volume. In fact, I bet it could handle double the pax that it is now based on what I've seen in much larger airports.
The one thing that does fascinate me about yxe is that at its very heart it is still the same basic layout that it had in the 1960's. Through 3 or 4 major expansions the ticket counters are still on the right with seating, gates, luggage on the left side, and a place for waiting non-travelling guests to still see all of the planes on the tarmac in the centre. They have stayed true to that concept for fifty years now and it has made for a very beautiful and unique airport.
I remember watching my dad leave and arrive on the AC DC-9's in the sixties. With my nose up against the glass I could sometimes spot him sitting behind one of the windows on the plane. (I always remember the little plastic planes the counter staff would give to us kids for free! Red DC-9s and Blue DC-8s - man I loved those things!) And then waiting for him to appear at the wheeled over stairs - who ever heard of an enclosed ramp back then?
And now you can still take your kids to watch the planes without going past security! In how many modern airports can you do that?