Why the Kelowna Airport Only Needs a Single Runway

[Glacier]

Someone was crying to me about how Kelowna is the largest airport in Canada with just a single runway. Just here in BC, Vancouver had 3 (including the 2nd longest one in Canada), Prince George has 3 (including the 3rd longest one in Canada), Comox has 2, Abbotsford has 2, and Victoria has 3, Terrace has 2, Kamloops has 2, Fort St. John has 2, Fort Nelson has 2, Delta has 2, Pitt Meadows has 3, Vanderhoof has 2, Tofino has 3, Port McNeil has 2, and your mom has 6. But Kelowna only has 1!

But guess what, Kelowna's airstrip could handle 4 times the traffic!

The airport gets 200 planes coming in per day, but Mumbai gets over 800 per day!

List of airports in BC by longest runway length....
1. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) = 3,505 metres (11,499 ft) [2nd longest in Canada after Calgary]
2. Prince George Airport (YXS) = 3,490 metres (11,450 ft) [3rd longest in Canada]
3. CFB Comox (Comox Airport) (YQQ) = 3,048 metres (10,000 ft)
4. Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) = 2,925 metres (9,596 ft)
5. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) = 2,713 metres (8,901 ft)

6. Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) = 2,438 metres (7,999 ft)
7. Kamloops Airport (YKA) = 2,438 metres (7,999 ft)
8. Smithers Airport (YYD) = 2,299 metres (7,543 ft)
9. Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat (Terrace Airport) (YXT) = 2,289 metres (7,510 ft)
10. Williams Lake Airport (YWL) = 2,134 metres (7,001 ft)

11. Victoria International Airport (YYJ) = 2,133 metres (6,998 ft)
12. Fort St. John Airport (North Peace Airport) (YXJ) = 2,106 metres (6,909 ft)
13. Nanaimo Airport (YCD) = 2,012 metres (6,601 ft)
14. Campbell River Airport (YBL) = 1,981 metres (6,499 ft)
15. Fort Nelson Airport (YYE) = 1,951 metres (6,401 ft)

16. Puntzi Mountain Airport (YPU) = 1,834 metres (6,017 ft)
17. Dease Lake Airport (YDL) = 1,830 metres (6,004 ft)
18. Fairmont Hot Springs Airport (YCZ) = 1,830 metres (6,004 ft)
19. Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) = 1,829 metres (6,001 ft)
20. Prince Rupert Airport (YPR) = 1,829 metres (6,001 ft)

21. Ingenika Airport = 1,8290 metres (6,000 ft)

22. Ospika Airport = 1,781 metres (5,844 ft)
23. Boundary Bay Airport (Vancouver/Boundary Bay Airport) (YDT) = 1,709 metres (5,607 ft)
24. Quesnel Airport (YQZ) = 1,677 metres (5,502 ft)
25. Castlegar Airport (YCG) = 1,615 metres (5,299 ft)
26. South Cariboo Regional Airport (108 Mile Ranch Airport) (ZMH) = 1,613 metres (5,292 ft)

27. Hudson's Hope Airport (YNH) = 1,585 metres (5,200 ft)
28. Revelstoke Airport (YRV) = 1,571 metres (5,154 ft)
29. Sandspit Airport (YZP) = 1,558 metres (5,112 ft)
30. Blue River Airport (YCP) = 1,544 metres (5,066 ft)
31. Burns Lake Airport (YPZ) = 1,542 metres (5,059 ft)

32. Mackenzie Airport (YZY) = 1,534 metres (5,033 ft)
33. Vanderhoof Airport = 1,530 metres (5,020 ft)
34. Dawson Creek Airport (YDQ) = 1,524 metres (5,000 ft)
35. Pitt Meadows Airport (YPK) = 1,524 metres (5,000 ft)
36. Port Hardy Airport (YZT) = 1,524 metres (5,000 ft)

37. Tofino/Long Beach Airport (YAZ) = 1,524 metres (5,000 ft)
38. Fort Grahame Airport = 1,524 metres (5,000 ft)
39. Masset Airport (ZMT) = 1,501 metres (4,925 ft)
40. Fort Ware Airport = 1,433 metres (4,700 ft)
41. Kemess Creek Airport = 1,424 metres (4,671 ft)

42. Douglas Lake Airport = 1,402 metres (4,600 ft)
43. Golden Airport (YGE) = 1,380 metres (4,528 ft)
44. Tsay Keh Airport = 1,372 metres (4,500 ft)
45. Chetwynd Airport (YCQ) = 1,366 metres (4,482 ft)
46. Grand Forks Airport (ZGF) = 1,314 metres (4,311 ft)

47. Clinton/Bleibler Ranch Aerodrome = 1,302 metres (4,272 ft)
48. Salmon Arm Airport (YSN) = 1,299 metres (4,262 ft)
49. Bella Coola Airport (YBD) = 1,280 metres (4,200 ft)
50. Fort Langley Airport = 1,264 metres (4,146 ft)
51. Bob Quinn Lake Airport (YBO) = 1,242 metres (4,075 ft)

52. Merritt Airport (Saunders Field) (YMB) = 1,220 metres (4,003 ft)
53. Trail Airport = 1,220 metres (4,003 ft)
54. Sparwood/Elk Valley Airport = 1,219 metres (4,000 ft)
55. Fort St. James (Perison) Airport (YJM) = 1,219 metres (3,999 ft)
56. Tsuniah Lake Lodge Airport = 1,219 metres (3,999 ft)

57. Lillooet Airport = 1,216 metres (3,990 ft)
58. Chilliwack Airport (YCW) = 1,215 metres (3,986 ft)
59. Hope Aerodrome (YHE) = 1,207 metres (3,960 ft)
60. Port Alberni (Alberni Valley Regional) Airport (YPB) = 1,205 metres (3,953 ft)
61. Atlin Airport = 1,204 metres (3,950 ft)

62. Tumbler Ridge Airport = 1,202 metres (3,942 ft)
63. Anahim Lake Airport (YAA) = 1,200 metres (3,937 ft)
64. Valemount Airport = 1,199 metres (3,934 ft)
65. Princeton Aerodrome = 1,198 metres (3,932 ft)
66. Pemberton Regional Airport = 1,194 metres (3,917 ft)

67. Houston Aerodrome = 1,189 metres (3,901 ft)
68. Stewart Aerodrome (ZST) = 1,189 metres (3,901 ft)
69. Kaslo Airport = 1,128 metres (3,700 ft)
70. Bella Bella (Campbell Island) Airport (ZEL) = 1,127 metres (3,698 ft)
70. Port McNeill Airport (YMP) = 1,113 metres (3,652 ft)

71. Echo Valley Airport = 1,040 metres (3,650 ft)
72. Powell River Airport (YPW) = 1,104 metres (3,622 ft)
73. Qualicum Beach Airport (XQU) = 1,086 metres (3,563 ft)
74. Green Lake Aerodrome = 1,082 metres (3,550 ft)
75. Vernon Regional Airport (YVE) = 1,072 metres (3,517 ft)

76. Elkin Creek Guest Ranch Airport = 1,040 metres (3,412 ft)
77. Moose Lake (Lodge) Airport = 1,021 metres (3,350 ft)
78. Woodcock Airport = 1,021 metres (3,350 ft)
79. Cache Creek Airport = 998 metres (3,274 ft)
80. Springhouse Airpark = 991 metres (3,250 ft)

81. Shuswap (Skwlax Field) Aerodrome = 987 metres (3,238 ft)
82. Likely Aerodrome = 975 metres (3,200 ft)
83. Oliver Airport = 975 metres (3,200 ft)
84. Chilko Lake (Tsylos Park Lodge) Aerodrome (CJH) = 975 metres (3,199 ft)
85. Nelson Airport = 945 metres (3,100 ft)

86. Cortes Island Aerodrome (YCF) = 942 metres (3,091 ft)
87. Kitimat Airport = 914 metres (3,000 ft)
88. Oie Lake/Dougall Campbell Field Aerodrome = 314 metres (3,000 ft)
89. Toad River/Mile 422 (Alaska Highway) Airport = 314 metres (3,000 ft)
90. Texada/Gillies Bay Airport (YGB) = 914 metres (2,999 ft)

91. Alert Bay Airport (YAL) = 910 metres (2,986 ft)
92. Nakusp Airport = 909 metres (2,982 ft)
93. Denny Island Aerodrome = 900 metres (2,953 ft)
94. Mabel Lake Airport = 884 metres (2,900 ft)
95. Invermere Airport = 860 metres (2,820 ft)

96. Langley Regional Airport (YNJ) = 836 metres (2,743 ft)
97. Barkerville Airport = 823 metres (2,700 ft)
98. McBride/Charlie Leake Field Aerodrome = 823 metres (2,700 ft)
99. Quesnel Lake Airport = 823 metres (2,700 ft)
100. Tsetzi Lake (Pan Phillips) Airport = 823 metres (2,700 ft)

101. Fraser Lake Airport = 820 metres (2,690 ft)
102. Courtenay (Smit Field) Airport = 812 metres (2,664 ft)
103. Radium Hot Springs Airport = 972 metres (2,600 ft)
104. Osoyoos Airport = 755 metres (2,477 ft)
105. Beaverley Airport = 750 metres (2,461 ft)

106. Mule Creek Airport = 750 metres (2,460 ft)
107. Squamish Airport (YSE) = 732 metres (2,402 ft)
108. Sechelt Aerodrome = 732 metres (2,400 ft)
109. Ross Creek Aerodrome = 705 metres (2,312 ft)
110. Tipella Airport = 701 metres (2,300 ft)

111.
112. 100 Mile House Airport = 671 metres (2,201 ft)
113. Dawson Creek (Flying L Ranch) Airport = 610 metres (2,000 ft)
114. Helmet Airport = 588 metres (1,930 ft)
115. Midway Aerodrome = 578 metres (1,896 ft)

116. Courtenay Airpark (YCA) = 549 metres (1,801 ft)
117. Quamichan Lake (Raven Field) Airport = 549 metres (1,800 ft)
118. Fort Nelson/Gordon Field Airport = 494 metres (1,625 ft)
119. Long Harbour Aerodrome = 479 metres (1,573 ft)
120. Duncan Airport (DUQ) = 455 metres (1,493 ft)

121. Surrey/King George Airpark = 305 metres (1,000 ft)

[Whyme2]

Someone was crying to me about how Kelowna is the largest airport in Canada with just a single runway. Just here in BC, Vancouver had 3 (including the 2nd longest one in Canada), Prince George has 3 (including the 3rd longest one in Canada), Comox has 2, Abbotsford has 2, and Victoria has 3, Terrace has 2, Kamloops has 2, Fort St. John has 2, Fort Nelson has 2, Delta has 2, Pitt Meadows has 3, Vanderhoof has 2, Tofino has 3, Port McNeil has 2, and your mom has 6. But Kelowna only has 1!

But guess what, Kelowna's airstrip could handle 4 times the traffic!

The airport gets 200 planes coming in per day, but Mumbai gets over 800 per day!

List of airports in BC by longest runway length....
1. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) = 3,505 metres (11,499 ft) [2nd longest in Canada after Calgary]
2. Prince George Airport (YXS) = 3,490 metres (11,450 ft) [3rd longest in Canada]
3. CFB Comox (Comox Airport) (YQQ) = 3,048 metres (10,000 ft)
4. Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) = 2,925 metres (9,596 ft)
5. Kelowna International Airport (YLW) = 2,713 metres (8,901 ft)

6. Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) = 2,438 metres (7,999 ft)
7. Kamloops Airport (YKA) = 2,438 metres (7,999 ft)
8. Smithers Airport (YYD) = 2,299 metres (7,543 ft)
9. Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat (Terrace Airport) (YXT) = 2,289 metres (7,510 ft)
10. Williams Lake Airport (YWL) = 2,134 metres (7,001 ft)
*snip*

Who was crying about Kelowna being the largest airport in Canada? are they nuts!

I would like to see them expand the terminal and stop just adding gates. More gates doesn't help the congestion when waiting for flights. its a joke

[GordonH]

Of course the other question is, do they have the room/space for another runway. Took a google earth view of Kamloops airport, that second runway is pretty damn small.

[Anonymous123]

Someone was crying to me about how Kelowna is the largest airport in Canada with just a single runway. Just here in BC, Vancouver had 3 (including the 2nd longest one in Canada), Prince George has 3 (including the 3rd longest one in Canada), Comox has 2, Abbotsford has 2, and Victoria has 3, Terrace has 2, Kamloops has 2, Fort St. John has 2, Fort Nelson has 2, Delta has 2, Pitt Meadows has 3, Vanderhoof has 2, Tofino has 3, Port McNeil has 2, and your mom has 6. But Kelowna only has 1!

It's hard to take you seriously when I read this.

[7600736]

Our airport is in a narrow valley full of lakes and uneven terrain - there just isn't room for a second runway. Prince Rupert has a similar problem with terrain, that's why their airport is on Digby Island. Our terminal layout is ridiculous - parking miles away from the check in and baggage drop, with no covered walkway to the terminal, and then you have to backtrack to security and boarding area. A new international terminal should have been built on the opposite side of the runway, with a pedestrian tunnel linking the two terminals, just like Toronto Island Airport has. Also, we're still using the same access road from Hwy. 97 that has been in use since the terminal was built in 1968. A new access road should be built to the south using Bulman Rd.

[Dizzy1]

But guess what, Kelowna's airstrip could handle 4 times the traffic!

The airport gets 200 planes coming in per day, but Mumbai gets over 800

In all fairness I don’t think Mumbai has a bunch of C172s doing touch and go’s ;)

Interesting thing about Prince George having such a long runway. They were trying to market themselves as an alternate option to Anchorage for cargo flights between Asia and the US.

[Dizzy1]

Of course the other question is, do they have the room/space for another runway. Took a google earth view of Kamloops airport, that second runway is pretty damn small.

No. There is no place for a crosswind runway due to the terrain.

[Dizzy1]

Our airport is in a narrow valley full of lakes and uneven terrain - there just isn't room for a second runway. Prince Rupert has a similar problem with terrain, that's why their airport is on Digby Island. Our terminal layout is ridiculous - parking miles away from the check in and baggage drop, with no covered walkway to the terminal, and then you have to backtrack to security and boarding area. A new international terminal should have been built on the opposite side of the runway, with a pedestrian tunnel linking the two terminals, just like Toronto Island Airport has. Also, we're still using the same access road from Hwy. 97 that has been in use since the terminal was built in 1968. A new access road should be built to the south using Bulman Rd.

A second, separate terminal for a handful of flights? Once YLW reaches over 15 million pax a year then a second terminal would be viable.

As far as a covered walkway - be thankful that the long term lot is accessible by foot instead of relying on a shuttle. Very few airports this size have covered walkways and honestly with the amount of precipitation we get over the year, completely unnecessary. If it’s that big of a deal - use the free courtesy van. My car sits in that lot more then it does at home - I’ve never had a complaint.

[Iamsomeone]

Our terminal layout is ridiculous - parking miles away from the check in and baggage drop, with no covered walkway to the terminal, and then you have to backtrack to security and boarding area.

Well, even if you were to take the farthest parking spot you would hardly be 'miles away from check in and baggage drop'.

While I agree with your point that the check in area and the security area should maybe have been swapped to avoid backtracking through the terminal (for those that use the parking lots)...

A new international terminal should have been built on the opposite side of the runway, with a pedestrian tunnel linking the two terminals, just like Toronto Island Airport has.

How could that possibly help? Building a terminal on the other side of the runway linked by a pedestrian tunnel would make the walking distance further.

What is your reason for even suggesting that? I'm curious.

[Omnitheo]

Someone was crying to me about how Kelowna is the largest airport in Canada with just a single runway. Just here in BC, Vancouver had 3 (including the 2nd longest one in Canada), Prince George has 3 (including the 3rd longest one in Canada), Comox has 2, Abbotsford has 2, and Victoria has 3, Terrace has 2, Kamloops has 2, Fort St. John has 2, Fort Nelson has 2, Delta has 2, Pitt Meadows has 3, Vanderhoof has 2, Tofino has 3, Port McNeil has 2, and your mom has 6. But Kelowna only has 1!

It's hard to take you seriously when I read this.

Aww that was the best part

In all seriousness, here is some good reading material on the subject

https://ylw.kelowna.ca/business/airport ... -plan-2045

[7600736]

Our terminal layout is ridiculous - parking miles away from the check in and baggage drop, with no covered walkway to the terminal, and then you have to backtrack to security and boarding area.

Well, even if you were to take the farthest parking spot you would hardly be 'miles away from check in and baggage drop'.

While I agree with your point that the check in area and the security area should maybe have been swapped to avoid backtracking through the terminal (for those that use the parking lots)...

A new international terminal should have been built on the opposite side of the runway, with a pedestrian tunnel linking the two terminals, just like Toronto Island Airport has.

How could that possibly help? Building a terminal on the other side of the runway linked by a pedestrian tunnel would make the walking distance further.

What is your reason for even suggesting that? I'm curious.[/quote

Ever seen the high speed people movers that they have at all international airports now? Put a couple of those in the tunnel, like they have at Billy Bishop. The international departures area and arrivals hall we have are a joke. In arrivals, if you arrive just behind a full 737 from Mexico, or wherever, you gotta wait in your aircraft (in my case an Alaska Q400...not very comfortable) until the Sunwing passengers clear customs. And how many times has that arrivals area been expanded? Just build a separate international terminal that's gonna be adequate for at least ten years and be done with it.

[Dizzy1]

Ever seen the high speed people movers that they have at all international airports now? Put a couple of those in the tunnel, like they have at Billy Bishop. The international departures area and arrivals hall we have are a joke. In arrivals, if you arrive just behind a full 737 from Mexico, or wherever, you gotta wait in your aircraft (in my case an Alaska Q400...not very comfortable) until the Sunwing passengers clear customs. And how many times has that arrivals area been expanded? Just build a separate international terminal that's gonna be adequate for at least ten years and be done with it.

YLW has 3 daily flights to/from SEA and a handful of seasonal sun destinations which are not even daily - I'm sure they'll jump right on building a separate terminal (on the other side of the runway with a tunnel at that) that would require its own infrastructure (kiosks, staff, security screening, amenities, janitorial staff) all for a handful of passengers

Having flown into YLW from various sun destinations and very frequently from SEA - I've yet to once experience what you claim.

The international arrivals area has been expanded once - and is perfectly suited for the current needs of arriving passengers and will be expanded again as the need grows. Airports don't spend tens of millions of dollars just to cater to a small fraction of the passenger base - that would be foolish.

[Dizzy1]

As to my previous comment about why Prince George has such a long runway ...

https://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/e ... ds-runway/

[Glacier]

I will say this about Kelowna, and I'm only speaking as one who has never flown out of Kelowna. Like Waylon Jennings, I take the bus, and like Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, my wife takes the plane, so I've been there a few times to pick up and drop off.

Anyway, the design of the roadway is the worst I've ever seen. You have a series of 90 degree corners, which I've never seen anywhere else at any other airport I've ever been to. The light at the highway is bad enough, but from there to the terminal it just gets worse. Every single other airport I've seen has nice smooth rounded corners, not 90 degree, confusing corners that cut right through the middle of the parking lot, essentially.

Here are some examples...

[motokelowna1]

LOL so what if it has one runway they only have 2 luggage carousels