Hi,

Today, Fed and Provincial gov. annonce they will support YQB refurbisment. Old new as it was floating since 1 year...but it is official (and well overdue)

What do you see for AC/Air Transat/ Jazz / WestJet and americain carriers?

On my side, I expect a nicer airport (can't be worse)...but I don't expect new destination. (except charter).

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With the financial commitment of the governments confirmed, the modernization of the Québec City airport is taking off


QUEBEC CITY, May 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéroport de Québec enthusiastically
welcomed a $30 million commitment by the federal and Québec governments,
confirmed today at a press conference attended by the Premier of Québec,
Jean Charest, the federal Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, the Honourable
Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the federal Minister of International Cooperation and
Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, the Honourable
Josée Verner, and the Québec Minister of Transport and Minister responsible
for the Capitale-Nationale region, Michel Després.
The Chairman of the Board, Gaetan Gagné, praised this essential
investment for the commencement of the project, and called attention to the
tireless efforts of the Prime Ministers and the business community. "Today,
the governments sent a clear message to the Québec region, echoing our
concerns and giving us the means to realize our goals. Thanks to a large scale
mobilization, and above all a collaborative effort, the new terminal will be a
source of pride for the entire community," Mr. Gagné declared.
With five years of continued growth and record traffic exceeding
771,000 passengers, the Chairman of the Board added that the accomplishments
of 2005 fully warranted the need to quickly begin the terminal's
modernization. In light of the many events planned for 2008, Mr. Gagné is
committed to making every effort to provide a modern and welcoming airport
terminal for the numerous visitors and dignitaries expected.
Aéroport de Québec is directly involved in the financing of the
terminal's restructuring, estimated at $65.8 million, by assuming over half
the expenses, $35.8 million. The modernization will make it possible to
support 756 jobs per year, providing nearly $47 million in added value to the
Québec economy while increasing federal and provincial government receipts by
$13 million. The two-tiered restructuring of a leading-edge airport terminal
will also make it possible to improve customer service and promote the growth
of aviation services that will stimulate an increase in traffic by nearly 50%
to 1.2 million passengers by 2015. The Québec region will benefit from more
than $90 million in added expenditures per year by 2015, with 1,700 new jobs
and $23 million in annual tax receipts.
"We are looking at an investment scoping over our greater region that
will allow Québec to position itself as a modern, dynamic and welcoming city
for visitors and investors alike," Mr. Gagné concluded.