Calgary Airport reopens west runway after full rebuild to boost capacity and safety

Credit: YYC

Flights will soon resume on the West Runway at Calgary International Airport (YYC) following a full reconstruction carried out over two years. As one of the airport’s two main runways, the rebuilt West Runway is now stronger, more durable and more sustainable, designed to support at least 40 more years of growth in both passenger and cargo traffic.

“This is critical infrastructure,” says Calgary Airports’ President and CEO Chris Dinsdale. “We forecast that our passenger volumes could increase up to 40 per cent within the next five years. Everything we build now is made to meet that moment, to elevate passenger experience, and to make our operations more efficient and sustainable. The comprehensive work on the West Runway achieves all of that.”

The original West Runway was constructed in 1939. As YYC expanded over the decades, aircraft became heavier and faster, flight activity increased, and the runway’s infrastructure approached the end of its lifecycle. Today YYC is the fourth busiest airport in Canada, the home hub of WestJet, and a major economic contributor for Calgary and the surrounding region.

Rehabilitation work began in April 2024. Flights were diverted to other runways during two construction seasons, and the project was guided by several conservation measures. A water reuse programme saved nearly two million litres of potable water, and more than 90 per cent of materials, including asphalt, concrete and electrical components, were recycled. The upgraded runway is among the first airport projects in Canada to earn Envision Framework certification for sustainable infrastructure.

General contractor PCL Construction delivered the project under budget and with an almost perfect safety record, while maintaining overall airfield capacity. Funding support came in part from the Government of Canada through Transport Canada, which provided 57.5 million dollars under the Airport Critical Infrastructure programme. Calgary Airports funded the remaining 142.5 million dollars.

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