It stands out so clearly that it has won top honours from the Airports Council International in the annual Airport Service Quality awards. YYJ was named best airport in North America serving up to two million passengers a year. The awards look at 30 criteria to evaluate customer service, including ambience, efficiency and value.
With its bright, airy interior and comfortable atmosphere, it’s no surprise that in 2011, Victoria was also named one of the world’s 10 most-loved airports by CNNGo, the only Canadian airport to make the list.
Keeping up with the airport Joneses is hard work, though, because the benchmark is constantly moving. Handling 1.5 million passengers a year and 120 flights a day, the airport authority can’t rest on its laurels. The hammers are flying today as the latest round of improvements continues inside the terminal.
The current $8.1-million project will expand the security area to take five lines of passengers instead of two, change the layout of the interior so people can move more easily, and add new places to eat and drink.
As it approaches its 50th birthday next August, the airport could consider better public transit to the airport, more direct flights from it and better use of the baggage area to showcase Victoria. While travellers are waiting for luggage, they could learn more about things to see and do on the West Coast.
It will take constant innovation for Victoria’s airport to stay ahead of the game.
