Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

Updated on Jan 26, 2024

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Airport type Public Serves Winnipeg, Manitoba Code YWG Phone +1 204-987-9402		Owner Transport Canada Time zone CST (UTC−06:00) Elevation 239 m Province Manitoba

Operator Winnipeg Airports Authority (DND) Hub for Calm Air Cargojet Perimeter Aviation NewLeaf Westjet Address 2000 Wellington Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1C2, Canada Profiles Facebook Twitter Instagram

Westjet boeing 737 takeoff at winnipeg james armstrong richardson international airport

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (commonly known as Winnipeg International Airport or simply Winnipeg Airport) (IATA: YWG, ICAO: CYWG) is an international airport located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the seventh busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, serving 4,015,200 passengers in 2016, and the 11th busiest airport by aircraft movements. It is a hub for passenger airlines Calm Air and Perimeter Airlines, and cargo airline Cargojet. It is also a focus city for WestJet. The airport is co-located with Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg.

An important transportation hub for the province of Manitoba, Winnipeg International Airport is the only commercial international airport within the province as the other airports of entry serve domestic flights and general aviation only. The airport is operated by the Winnipeg Airport Authority as part of Transport Canada's National Airports System and is one of eight Canadian airports that has US Border Pre-clearance facilities.

Winnipeg's relatively isolated geographical location in relation to other major population centres makes Winnipeg International Airport the primary airport for a very large area. As such, it is used as a gateway to the entire Province of Manitoba and large parts of neighbouring Provinces and Territories. Daily non-stop flights are operated from Winnipeg International Airport to destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, along with summer seasonal flights to the United Kingdom. In addition, regularly scheduled flights to numerous small remote communities in the northern regions of Canada, specifically Northern Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut, are also served from the airport.

History

The airport opened in 1928 as Stevenson Aerodrome in honour of the noted Manitoba aviator and pioneer bush pilot, Captain Fred J. Stevenson. Stevenson Aerodrome, also known as Stevenson Field, was Canada's first international airport. In 1958, at the request of the Canadian Department of Transport, Stevenson Field was officially renamed Winnipeg International Airport.

The original main terminal building was built in 1964, and was designed by the architectural firm of Green Blankstein Russell and Associates (subsequently GBR Associates and Stantec Limited). It was expanded and renovated in 1984 by the architectural firm of IKOY, and a hotel was built across from the terminal in 1998. The original main terminal building was closed on Sunday October 30, 2011 and has since been demolished.

On December 10, 2006, the Minister of Transport, Lawrence Cannon, announced Winnipeg International Airport was to be renamed Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in honour of the influential businessman and pioneer of Canadian commercial aviation from Winnipeg.

Main Terminal

Winnipeg's main airport terminal was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects and Stantec. The terminal's design was inspired by the City of Winnipeg's distinctive landscape and the province of Manitoba's vast prairies and sky. It was the first airport terminal in Canada to be LEED-certified for its environmentally friendly concept, design, construction and operation. The terminal was constructed in two phases, with construction beginning in 2007 and ending on October 30, 2011 when it was officially opened to the public. Prior to the opening of the current main terminal building, a multi-level access road and four-level, 1,559 stall parkade were both opened in November 2006. All airlines serving Winnipeg International Airport operate at the main terminal building, with the exception of Perimeter Aviation.

Air Canada operates a Maple Leaf Lounge located in the domestic/international departures area, and a "pay-in" lounge, operated by Plaza Premium Lounge, is also located in the domestic/international departures area. Free WiFi is provided by the Winnipeg Airports Authority throughout the entire main terminal building.

Perimeter Terminal

Perimeter Aviation is a regional airline that operates its own small, exclusive terminal building at Winnipeg International Airport to facilitate its passenger, cargo and charter services. Perimeter Aviation does not use the main terminal building due to its varied operations to small remote communities throughout Northern Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario using small propeller aircraft, with which regular airport terminal services (jet bridge, catering, etc.) are unnecessary and can actually be a hindrance to day-to-day operations.

The Perimeter Aviation terminal building is located 2.6 km south of the main terminal building.

Other facilities

A large Canada Post mail processing facility was opened at the airport site on June 4, 2010. The 23,225 square meter facility is located east of the main terminal building, just north of Wellington Avenue.

Three hotels are located on site, adjacent to the main airport terminal.

Richardson International Airport is included in a new 20,000-acre (81 km²) dry port created by provincial legislation – CentrePort Canada Act, C.C.S.M. c. C44 – that will offer investment opportunities for distribution centres, warehousing and manufacturing. CentrePort Canada will allow companies to take advantage of the cargo capabilities of Richardson International Airport, as well as serviced land, a mid-continent location and highway and rail transport.

On April 14, 2009, Prime Minister Stephen Harper with Premier Gary Doer announced at James Richardson that both the Federal and Provincial governments will contribute $212.5 million towards a divided four lane expressway called CentrePort Canada Way. It is now complete, and links Inkster Boulevard to the Perimeter Highway on the north side of the CP Rail Glenboro subdivision parallel to Saskatchewan Avenue to attract new transportation logistics associated development to the city area west and Rosser Municipality northwest of the airport.

Car

Winnipeg International Airport is located at 2000 Wellington Avenue in the City of Winnipeg. Several short and long term parkades are located on site, as well as a curb-side valet parking service.

Bus

Winnipeg Transit operates two bus routes that service the airport. The Winnipeg Bus Terminal is an intercity bus and cargo terminal for Greyhound and other intercity bus lines. It is located beside the main terminal building. The Brandon Air Shuttle provides shuttle transportation between Winnipeg International Airport and Manitoba's second largest city, Brandon.

Accidents and incidents

On July 23, 1983, Air Canada Flight 143 (now known as the Gimli Glider), a Boeing 767 trying to reach Winnipeg, as an alternate was forced to make an emergency landing in Gimli, Manitoba after running out of fuel. No one was injured. This incident was the subject of the book, Freefall, by William Hoffer and the subsequent TV movie, Falling from the Sky: Flight 174, starring William Devane.

On March 3, 2007, British Airways Flight BA289, a Boeing 747 flying from London Heathrow Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, made an unscheduled landing at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport after a passenger became unruly when he was refused alcohol. The passenger was charged with mischief, causing a disturbance and failing to comply with instructions from the flight crew. The aircraft sat on the tarmac for two hours before resuming its trip to Phoenix.

On June 19, 2007, a Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 cargo plane en route from Wilmington, Ohio to Anchorage, Alaska made an emergency landing at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport after reporting a fire inside the airplane. No one was injured. After cleanup, an unrelated engine problem forced the 747 to remain in Winnipeg, leaving a week later on three engines.

On October 9, 2009, United Airlines Flight 6648 from Denver landed and was taxiing when it skidded off into the grass due to blowing snow at the airport which caused poor visibility. All 35 passengers and crew were safe but the airport had to close one of two runways due to the incident. It took 18 hours to remove the airliner from the snow. In a separate incident the same evening, an Air Canada Jazz aircraft reported hitting a number of birds shortly after takeoff. The crew turned back to Winnipeg and landed safely. An initial investigation found minor damage on the Air Canada aircraft.

On October 25, 2010, a United Airlines Boeing 777 made a successful emergency landing in the afternoon after the pilots reported smoke in the cockpit. The flight was from Chicago en route to Shanghai. Everyone on board was fine.

On May 9, 2013, a Boeing 777-300ER, Cathay Pacific Flight 806 from Hong Kong to Chicago, made an emergency landing at Winnipeg due to a possible cargo hold fire. The plane landed safely, and ultimately no fire was found on board.

On June 4, 2016, a Boeing 777-300ER, Air China Flight 818 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport, made an emergency landing in Winnipeg due to problem with the right engine. The plane landed safely with all 291 passengers on board. A replacement aircraft was sent in to Winnipeg to take the stranded passengers to Beijing. {{[2]

References

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Rubén Valtierra

Andrea Stretton