Edmonton City Centre Airport


Press Releases Reports Letters

Why does AEG support the continued operation of the Edmonton City Centre Airport (ECCA)? The simple answer is that the ECCA makes Edmonton a better place to live, work and do business.

Over the coming months Edmonton City Council will engage in a large-scale public consultation on the future of the ECCA. AEG has activated its members and a group of 300 businesses that rely on the airport to conduct business. We're committed to telling our story to the people of Edmonton and to our elected leaders and we're confident that City Council will eventually see the wisdom in maintaining a vibrant City Centre Airport.

Scroll down to see letters of support from Edmontonians, view our latest news releases and check out reports as they become available. Click on the letter writer's name for full text of the letter.

The ECCA plays a vital role in making Edmonton one of Canada’s leading health centers. It is a hub for air ambulance, medivac, organ transplants and other essential health services for all of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. It also contributes to the safety and security of our province. The Edmonton Police Service, RCMP and the Canadian Forces are all major users of the facility.

The airport is essential to the long term success of Alberta’s Capital Region.

Let's work together to ensure the ECCA continues to be an important part of Edmonton's future. Check back frequently for updates on our activities, and feel free to contact us if you would like to contribute in any way.



Letters

26-Mar-10 John Loverock -- Airline Pilot
Closure of ECCA will eliminate a possible alternate, and therefore restrict airline service to Edmonton.
25-Jan-10 Letter from Medevac pilot Rick Robinson to former Health Minister Ron Liepert
Letter to Health Minister from Medevac pilot Rick Robinson outlines a close call resulting from new restrictions placed at ECCA -- a sign of things to come when medevac flights are permanently re-routed to Edmonton International Airport.
06-Jul-09 Dr. Kevin Lobay
"Transfer of these services to the International Airport would clearly have an adverse effect on patient care in our province... consider the difference in driving time between the City Centre Airport and the Royal Alexandra Hospital compared with driving from the International Airport to either of our tertiary hospitals."
05-Jul-09 Cari Sware -- Air Ambulance Dispatcher
"When medevacs are inbound into the CCA they take priority over all other aircraft. If medevacs are moved to the EIA it will cause major airlines to circle while that medevac lands. Increased pollution, increased noise, increased delays to passenger traffic mean increased frustration to the surrounding community and travellers."
03-Jul-09 George Reid, former Air Services Authority Chairman
"...by refusing construction of new hangar and other aviation facilities - - - while promoting construction of non-aviation facilities! ERAA has not maintained the airport infrastructure as called for in their lease."
03-Jul-09 Charles R. Allard
"Our Municipal Airport is still a tremendous resource which can never be replaced. Yes, it is used by politicians and a few corporate jets (most of which use the International Airport) but there are still many other advantages and varied business uses, including survey work, flight instruction, ambulance services, Edmonton Police services, RCMP services, smaller charter services, etc. to name a few. There are over 300 businesses that utilize the Municipal Airport on a regular basis."
25-Jun-09 Dr. John C. Mullen
"The success of the University of Alberta Heart Transplant Program depends on a strong viable City Centre Airport."
22-Jun-09 Shawn Abbott -- iNovia Capital
"Far from elitist, this simply allows me to effectively bring together a large enough market to compete while coaching my sons soccer in the evening"
22-Jun-09 Don Wheaton
"I am of the view that it is imperative that the city does all it can to protect this important asset."
15-Jun-09 Rod McLennan, Q.C
"Most certainly, it is not in the City's interest to further fragment our downtown by creating a satellite office, retail or high density residential competition for the downtown core. The downtown core contains a very substantial amount of unused or under-used land and it is estimated that there are 15 to 20 years of available lands available in the downtown core."
11-Jun-09 Cherri Kilgore
Last year, when my father was having a heart attack, he was transferred from Peace River to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton via air ambulance. We landed at the City Centre Airport and were at the hospital within 20 minutes. If we had had to land at the International Airport the transfer time from the airport to the hospital would have been much longer and could have reduced his chances for survival. Keep the ECCA open. It is critical to those of us who live in northern Alberta. Cherri Kilgore
11-Jun-09 Bob Bentley -- Freedom Ford
"This matter is both confusing and perplexing. It is confusing because Edmontonians thought they dealt with the issue in a 1995 plebiscite, and were promised by city officials the ECCA would be kept open. Why are we grappling with this matter again? Perhaps Henry Brooks Adams was correct when he said, "Practical politics consists in ignoring facts!"
08-Jun-09 Terry Kilburn -- Avison Young
"Edmonton has enough infill sites in the Downtown core to sustain development for the next 25 plus years. Developing the City Centre Airport lands will detract from infilling the core."
07-Jun-09 Alberta Building Trades Council Charitable Foundation
"Our skilled trade's men and women work at complex industrial sites, many in Alberta's hinterland. It is extremely important for our members and population in these outlying areas to have air access to one of Edmonton's critical care facilities. For many, it's a matter of life or death."
07-Jun-09 Building Trades of Alberta
"The ECCA is a crucial element to maintaining and growing the population of skilled trades people living in the Edmonton area or choosing to relocated to our great City."
04-Jun-09 Lana Brewer
"Please consider all of us here in Northern Alberta when you make the decision because it will have a major impact on us up here."
03-Jun-09 Daryl Jones
"Close the ECCA and you close me out, along with thousands of other Albertans who WANT access to Edmonton by air without an over priced and lengthy cab ride."
02-Jun-09 NOR-ALTA Aviation
"There have been numerous cases in recent years where the proximity of the ECCA to hospitals has been instrumental in saving the lives of critically ill patients."
11-May-09 Foster Aircraft Maintenance
"ECCA could become what Springbank is if it wasn't being stranged by the airport authority."
11-May-09 City of Lethbridge
"Fast, Convenientm, cost-effective access to Edmonton is important, not only to residents of Lethbridge and southern Alberta, but to all Albertans."
11-May-09 Ken and Maddy Parsons
"...why are we handcuffed not to fully run our airport?"
01-May-09 Northern Sunrise County
"Council vehemently feels that the City Centre Airport is a vital link for emergency services."
27-Apr-09 Municipal District of Opportunity
"The airport is a vital link for Northern Alberta in all aspects such as air ambulance, transportation of goods, business and industry services."
24-Apr-09 Brad Ferguson -- Strategy Summit
"Mayor Mandel, I respect the severity of the debate before you, but trust you to consider the long-term implications of limiting the productivity and profitability of Edmonton firms in serving our most immediate market."
24-Apr-09 John Ferguson -- Suncor
"Closing the City Centre Airport, especially at this time, would be a grave mistake. Unfortunately, it would be a mistake that cannot be fixed at a later date as this special asset would be lost forever."
22-Apr-09 Enbridge
"As one of the closest airports to downtown of any major city in North America, the City Centre Airport represents a true strategic advantage for Edmonton."
09-Apr-09 John Currie -- Northwest Territories
"In the event that you are considering that you are considering that aircraft traffic and economic activity will easily and readily divert to that location, please let me disavow you of that perception."
09-Apr-09 Edmonton Flight College
"In our recent history, we actually established a satellite school at the Villeneuve Airport and it failed miserably."
08-Apr-09 Sandy MacTaggart -- Former Chairman -- MacLab
"There is a tendency to be dazzled by short-term popular expediency to relieve current financial pressures by developing large tracts of land. The Municipal Airport is an obvious example."
07-Apr-09 ATCO
"The Edmonton City Centre Airport is a unique asset that, if removed, can never be recreated. It's value will increase as the city grows and our status as the economic hub of the North is further established."
06-Apr-09 Laura Denis
"I hope it is your vision to capitalize on this valuable resource and work to keep the Edmonton City Centre Airport open."
06-Apr-09 Bill Pratt
"Many other cities around the world would love to have a city centre airport..."
06-Apr-09 Captain Rosella Bjornson
"In 2009 Canada will celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight...Please do the right thing for our citizens and our businesses. Keep it open."
05-Apr-09 Eric Davidge
"Edmonton needs to promote and support the business community that currently exists as well as try to attract additional businesses to the area."
03-Apr-09 PIC Investment Group
"Closing the Edmonton City Centre Airport is a step backwards for a growing and dynamic city."
02-Apr-09 Murray Scambler
The CCA is one of the best business assets the City has over most major cities in North America.
02-Apr-09 Dorothy Williams
"I can personally attest that any major city would sell its soul to garner a downtown airport."
01-Apr-09 Ian Barrigan -- Barrigan Management
"The ECCA is a tremendous asset and in the future could become even more valuable with proper utilization and good management."
31-Mar-09 Northgate Industries
"It seems to us the City is ignoring the effect on the 750-1000 people we employ directly and through contract."
30-Mar-09 Larry Pollock -- Canadian Western Bank
"A firm commitment to keep it open would, or could, be a big "positive" for a company looking to locate its head office in Edmonton for example -- an advantage no other major city has, except Toronto."
30-Mar-09 Louis Lamontagne -- CN Rail
"We wish to offer our support the initiative created by Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG), in their efforts to maintain the Edmonton City Centre Airport as a viable component of your city's infrastructure."
30-Mar-09 Ken Ferchoff -- Carrington Communities
"..closure of ECCA would have negative results in the health, safety and security of our province and city."
30-Mar-09 Ron Szepesy -- Zoltech
"With some vision we can develop this airport properly and it can become a legacy for our future and the envy of other cities."
29-Mar-09 Inter-Pro Property Corporation
"It is inconceivable that we would really consider giving up this asset for any reason."
28-Mar-09 Northern Air
"Another airline commenced scheduled flights the same time we did but instead of catering to the City Centre Airport they flew to the Edmonton International Airport; this carrier had no support from passengers and ceased operations into the International Airport withing eight months."
26-Mar-09 Air Tindi
"If the municipal airport was to shut down it would definitely impact the clinical care of the patients and would be at least an hour to two hour delay minimum for each trip which could mean a matter of life and death."
26-Mar-09 Bruce Pennock
"We have major clients in Calgary, Lloydminster, Peace River, Phoenix and Fort McMurray who all make use of the ECCA due to its convenience for accounting, legal, banking and other business purposes."
26-Mar-09 Igloo Building & Supplies Group
"As a business group with active contacts with Northern Alberta and Arctic Canada, we have found the City Centre Airport very valuable in net working with the North. It would be a truly negative development for our type of business if such a facility were to be taken away."
26-Mar-09 Dr. David Climenhaga
"If Council wants to close City Centre Airport they should teach us how having a person spend $50 and 45 minutes getting downtown from the International makes Edmonton more competitive than a $10, 10 minute cab ride from the City Centre Airport."
25-Mar-09 Scott Weinrich
"What about the businesses that have been established around this wonderful and unique airport? The 4 adjacent hotels, the flight schools, the small business that provide support to the airport like the Edmonton Flying Club or larger corporations like Shell and Esso."
25-Mar-09 Bruno Muller -- Caron Transportation
"I'll be blunt -- closing the City Centre Airport will be yet another "kick in the teeth" for Edmonton area businesses."
24-Mar-09 London Air Services
"On a daily basis we serve clientele who live their lives based on maximizing the number of minutes available to them every day. While London air ensures the time spent in the air is minimized, it is the convenience of the location of the ECCA that many comment on as they move in and out of Edmonton."
24-Mar-09 Lyle Best
"...if you were given a blank slate and wanted to design a new city, wouldn't it include an airport that is in close proximity to the city core? Convenient and close to services such as hospitals, universities and government buildings? Look around North America for a start and then move on to Europe and you will find countless examples of just such a thing."
24-Mar-09 Henry Vos
"But at the end of the day, It is really about economics"
24-Mar-09 Strogryn Sales
"...one short sighted decision after another."
24-Mar-09 Town of High Level
"The nature of the economy in Alberta, the role of Edmonton in that economy, the location of Edmonton as a central point, and particularly the fact that is the seat of the Provincial Government, make it a critical component in air access from all regions."
24-Mar-09 Gasland
"I have been in contact with many others who share my opinion in regards to the ECCA."
24-Mar-09 Mid-American Energy Holdings Company
"Edmonton's City Centre Airport supports the business economy of the entire area. It would be regrettable to lose one of Edmonton's unique features."
24-Mar-09 Cash'n'Go
"While it's true that not every citizen uses the ECCA, the same could be said for many of our city's facilities and infrastructure. Edmonton is a land-locked northern city. Transporation options have been, and always will be, key to our vitality and competitive economic growth."
24-Mar-09 NWI Jet
"If you consider the time and logistics alone of landing at the Edmonton International Airport and taking a ground ambulance to one of the major trauma hospitals, you can imagine how there is no reasonable comparison to landing downtown."
24-Mar-09 Alberta Fuel Distributors
"Once we lose this asset, we will never get it back, please consider this as you deliberate further."
24-Mar-09 Pro-Tech Seal Manufacturing
"Pro-Tech Seal Manufacturing used the ECCA to expand its Edmonton-based business throughout Western Canada through the use of our own airplane travelling to other communities. Closure of the airport will make it more difficult for us to do business with our customers across Canada."
24-Mar-09 Tal T. Talibi
"Alberta Enterprise Group, with the right skills and experience has taken on the task..."
24-Mar-09 Adlair
"For critical medevacs, we provide our Lear 25 jet to save precious minutes and bring these patients to Edmonton, rather than Yellowknife. The closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport will worsen the survival rate as the ground transport time will drastically increase."
24-Mar-09 Bruce Saville
"The houses that could be built there will be built somewhere else. The tax dollars that could be raised there will be raised somewhere else. No more people are going to move to Edmonton to build houses because the airport lands become available."
24-Mar-09 North Western Air
"The implications of the closure of ECCA will have a direct and significant impact on revenues, costs, medical concerns for people throughout the north and I urge you and all Councillors to take this impact in your decision making."
24-Mar-09 Steve Snyder -- TransAlta
"I urge you to view ECCA as a real strategic asset for Edmonton. In today's highly mobile world, cities around the globe are striving to make their cities more accessible and business friendly. It's hard to believe they wouldn't love to be in Edmonton's position."
24-Mar-09 North American Construction Group
"Edmonton has already given away much of its competitive advantage for business to Calgary. Don't give away our last great advantage of efficient and cost effective access to Alberta's North."
24-Mar-09 Westcorp
"There is a huge supply of land in and around downtown that should be developed prior (it'll take decades to use it all up) to any new development on this parcel."
23-Feb-09 Alberta Enterprise Group letter to City Council to keep aiport open
Open letter from AEG to Edmonton City Council making the case for keeping the City Centre Aiport open.
10-Feb-09 Yukon Minister of Health and Social Services
Yukon Health Minister raises health and safety concerns for Yukon residents in the event that the City Centre Airport is closed.
28-Jan-09 Mayor of Slave Lake -- Karina Pillay Kinnee
Council has been advised through the Slave Lake Airport Services Commission that discussions are underway to close the City Centre Airport in Edmonton. We are very disturbed by this news."