Ottawa International Airport Authority has marked its 15th anniversary in charge of operating the Canadian gateway, after taking the reins on February 1, 1997.
 

Fifteen years ago, the Canadian federal government transferred responsibility for the operation and development of Ottawa International Airport to a community-based board of directors and the airport authority.
 

The transfer was managed under the terms of a 60-year lease with Transport Canada and the authority’s mandate has been to “manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of the National Capital Region”.
 

Since 1997 Ottawa International Airport Authority has invested more than C$500 million – without any form of government funding – in infrastructure projects including a C$310 million passenger terminal in 2003, a C$60 million expansion of the parking facilities in 2004, and a further C$95 refurbishment of the terminal in 2008.
 

In the last fifteen years, the airport has grown from handling 3.1 million passengers a year to more than 4.6 million a year – up 49% – and commercial aircraft movements have jumped from 77,000 to nearly 91,000 in the same period.
 

In terms of its economic impact, the gateway has gone from injecting C$240 million per year into the local economy in 1997 to C$2.2 billion in 2011.
 

Raymond Brunet, chairman of the airport authority’s board of directors, said: “Airports rely on the support of surrounding communities if they are to grow and prosper.
 

“We are fortunate to have received overwhelming support from ours, and for that we are extremely thankful.”
 

Paul Benoit, CEO of Ottawa International Airport Authority, added: “We have the best airport team in the country – they have dedicated themselves to the success of the airport, to providing excellent service to our passengers and visitors and to ensuring that we have world class airport facilities.”