Airport Advisory Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Airport Administration Boardroom
Kelowna International Airport
1-5533 Airport Way
Kelowna, BC
Members Absent
  • Councillor Luke Stack, City of Kelowna
  • Andre Blanleil, Kelowna City at Large
  • Mayor Akbal Mund, City of Vernon
  • Mayor James Baker, District of Lake Country
  • Corie Griffiths, Economic Development Commission

1.
Call to Order, Welcome and Introductions - Chair, Mayor Tom Dyas

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m.

 

2.
Confirmation of Minutes

This item has attachments. 
1.Post-Meeting Minutes - Airport Advisory Committee_Jul26_2023 - English.pdf
  • Blair/ Ron

    ​THAT the Minutes of the July 26, 2023 Airport Advisory Committee meeting be adopted.



    Carried

3.
Reports

This item has attachments. 
1.Airport Advisory Committee Presentation November 2023.pdf

3.1
Opening Remarks - Sam Samaddar, Airport Chief Executive Officer

 

The Mayor provided background and congratulations to Sam Samadar for winning the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year.

Airport Chief Executive Officer thanked the Committee and provided context to the growth due to the investment in the airport by the community.

Provided a background to recovery of airports nationally and globally.

Spoke to the development of AI solutions and personal touch for travellers as they navigate through airports.

Spoke to the contraction of airports into a more regional focus and their risk averse approaches.

Spoke to the leverage airlines find themselves currently in and labour shortages.

Kelowna continues to hold its position and is close to achieving its 2019 goals.

Embarking on the largest ever investment in the airport.

Responded to questions from the Committee.

3.2
Operational Review - Phillip Elchitz, Director, Operations & Innovation

 

Provided an operating overview including 2023 monthly passenger counts showing just over 2 million passengers this year.

Showed historical counts over last 10 years.

Spoke to aircraft movements with 65,632 to date, highest ever recorded to end of June prior to the summer fires.

Spoke to the new aircraft approach coming online at the end of January 2024.

Spoke to the information sessions completed in the community.

Reminded the committee of the OCP federal airport height regulations being embedded into the Official Community Plan.

Spoke to working with RDCO on the lands east of the airport boundary.

Recapped innovation projects that are underway including ground transportation management software to dispatch, manage and invoice commercial vehicle operators (CVOs) and automation of gate/counter scheduling.

Spoke to the 2023 wildfires including the 85 hour airspace closure and the future goal to have a more collaborative process resulting in partial airspace closure versus a blanket airspace closure. Kelowna will be leading a national review with the federal government to have more collaborative approach with all Canadian airports.

Spoke to the air passenger protection federal regulations including the increase of time eligible for a claim from 1 year to 3 years and limiting 'knock-on' effects to no more than 2 flights. Spoke to the unintended consequences the regulations will have on the airlines.

Responded to questions from the Committee.

Provided an update in relationship with Uber.

3.3
Commercial, Capital Projects & Air Service Overview - Geoff Ritchie, Director, Commercial & Air Service

 

Displayed a PowerPoint presentation outlining the hotel and parkade development.

Spoke to the future development of the east lands at the airport and the coordination of all levels of government to get access in and out of the area.

Provided an update on the air terminal building expansion with the erection of the crane schedule for January 2024.

Spoke to the Childcare facility as it is now open and full and a second funding application to expand into additoinal two classrooms is completed.

Spoke to the planning cycles for airlines including long range planning, network planning, schedule planning and revenue management.

Spoke to the differences between summer and winter scheduling.

YLW recovery has kept up with the Canadian average and is the second fastest in recovery.

Ninety percent of seats are recovered in comparison to 2019.

Spoke to the collaboration of YLW with community stakeholders to align strategies and leverage efforts.

Responded to questions from the Committee.

3.4
Financial Overview - Shayne Dyrdal, Director, Finance & Corporate Services

 

Staff displayed a PowerPoint presentation outlining the financials for the airport.

Provided a comparison of actual versus budgeted with the annual surplus being 73 percent of what was budgeted.

Revenues are at 72 percent of budgeted amounts.

Reviewed significant investments in 2024 including the terminal building expansion, combine operations addition, and airside pavement rehabilitation and equipment pruchase.

Reviewed fees and charges and the proposed three percent increase for landing and terminal fees.

Reviewed changes to wording for clairity regarding land rental rates.

Reviewed estimated airport improvement fee per landed air carrier seat as a Tier 2 airport.

THAT Receive the report and approval of COuncil 7982 increase landing and terminal fees and (Get reso from Shayne)

Moved by Blair seconded by Councillor Mund Carried

4.
Questions & Wrap Up

 

Staff responded to questions from the Committee.

Provided an update on pre-board screening regulations. 

5.
Termination of Meeting

 

The Chair declared the meeting terminated at 10:44 a.m.

6.
Tour - KF Centre for Excellence, Okanagan Aerospace & Aviation Museum - Paula Quinn, Executive Director KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence

 

7.
Group Photo

 
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