B.C. airports bracing for Olympic air traffic
Last Updated: Saturday, March 28, 2009 | 11:16 AM PT
CBC News
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Airports across B.C. are planning for the arrival of hundreds of extra aircraft expected during the 2010 Winter Olympics but one Fraser Valley facility is concerned it might not have enough resources to handle the additional traffic.
Brett Patterson, the director of operational safety and planning at the Vancouver International Airport, said he expects about 950 aircraft on a peak day during the Games.
That's several hundred more than the airport deals with on a regular basis.
Patterson said airports in Pitt Meadows and Abbotsford will help handle the extra air traffic.
"So what we're doing is working with all the other airports to manage our capacity and make sure demand is distributed over the whole network of airports within the Lower Mainland so we can maintain that level of service," he said.
Dave Kandal, chair of the Abbotsford Airport Authority, said his facility will do its best to help but cautioned the airport has its limits.
"We won't be able to handle [extra flights] under our present configuration. We have limited facilities and parking available," Kandal said.
Another concern is securing extra snow removal equipment for the airport, he said.
"We did put out feelers and we've asked the military if they would make equipment available to us. They have not given us a positive response up to this time."
Kandal said the airport is also working on a reservation system so the extra planes have a place to park.
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