Passengers departing Edmonton International Airport pay an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) of $15. On September 1, 2009, the AIF will increase by five dollars, to $20 per ticket. This fee is included in the price of airline tickets. The AIF is used to fund any air terminal redevelopment projects, including Expansion 2012.
The following passengers are exempt from the fee:
- Children under two
- Aircraft crew on duty
- Airline staff traveling on business
- In-transit passengers remaining on board an aircraft
- Passengers connecting within four hours for domestic/transborder flights (24 hours for international flights)
Since industry de-regulation in 1992, Canadian airports stopped receiving tax monies for major facility upgrades or operational requirements, and therefore have been solely responsible for funding these projects. The airport, which was substantially renovated in 2000, is presently operating 20 per cent above capacity. The terminal was built to accommodate up to 5.5 million passengers a year. In 2008, EIA saw nearly 6.5 million passengers use its facilities.
Expansion 2012 is financed through the Alberta Capital Finance Authority, which allows EIA to leverage the Province’s excellent credit rating. Edmonton Airports is also able to draw funds only as required, rather than taking out one large loan at the start of the project. This keeps interest costs down and allows flexibility in financial planning.
We are committed to a transparent process, in which money collected is accounted for separately in our financial statements.
Edmonton Airports is further committed to spending prudently and frugally, understanding that we are collecting directly from the public, and need to be accountable for how that money is spent. We understand that people are looking for a functional, efficient building, appropriate to the growth and needs of our region.
For more information on the airport improvement fee, or to comment, please
contact Edmonton Airports by e-mail at: info@flyeia.com.