Airport Upgrades Support Improved Connect Across BC

Press Release

June 26, 2025

BC’s regional airports are set to receive vital infrastructure improvements through the Province’s BC Air Access Program (BCAAP), with $6.2 million in funding supporting 16 air facilities across the province. These upgrades reinforce how essential local aviation networks are to BC’s communities, visitor economy, and emergency response infrastructure.

This year’s funded projects include:

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast

100 Mile House: Development of an airport master plan – $35,000
Fraser Lake: Rebuilding the runway’s north side – $29,012
Quesnel: Terminal building upgrades – $272,000

Kootenay Rockies

Castlegar: Rehabilitation of the aviation apron – $1.6 million
Creston: Creation of an airport master plan – $35,000
Invermere: Runway and apron improvements – $17,100
Trail: Tree topping around the airport for safety – $19,747
Valemount: Replacement of a fuel tank to provide larger storage capacity for wildfire suppression – $132,297

Northern British Columbia

Dease Lake: Airport perimeter fencing – $918,652
McBride: Fuel system upgrades for medevac, wildfire, and other emergency services – $495,000
Prince George: Purchase of a fuel truck – $612,542
Prince Rupert: Security and communications systems upgrades – $60,000
Terrace: Runway rehabilitation and new lights and signage – $2 million

Thompson Okanagan

Kamloops: Taxi-lane rehabilitation – $1.8 million
Pemberton: Runway repairs and painting – $121,500
Tofino: Installation of a backup generator for emergency preparedness – $271,700

Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

Pitt Meadows: Perimeter fencing and culvert replacement to improve emergency access – $520,000
Sechelt: Improvements for operations at night and in poor weather – $24,500
Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre: Purchase and staff training for an adaptive aircraft passenger lift to assist passengers with mobility challenges – $12,675

Vancouver Island

Campbell River: Installation of new fuel storage systems – $996,100
Comox: Replacement of a diesel ground power unit with an electrical unit – $220,000

Indigenous Communities

Metlakatla: Emergency heliport upgrade – $567,000

With over 300 public airports, heliports, and water aerodromes in BC, these facilities form an essential web of connectivity for residents, travellers, and service providers. While airports fall under federal jurisdiction, provincial investment through BCAAP reflects BC’s commitment to supporting the infrastructure that sustains rural and Indigenous communities, tourism growth, and emergency preparedness.

For BC’s tourism sector, especially in remote regions, these upgrades are foundational to access and safety—both for visitors and those who host them.

Read the full news release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025TT0068-000619

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