Spirits soar at new airport

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/10/2011 (5171 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Leo Dufault stepped on to the escalator leading to the arrivals area at the new air terminal building Sunday morning, quickly pulled out his camera and snapped a few shots on the way down.

“I wanted an opening souvenir for myself for the way it looks,” said the St. Boniface resident, who was returning home after being away for two weeks in Halifax. “It’s high time we got a new airport. It looks bigger, bright and clean.”

Dufault was one of many passengers who left Winnipeg at various times over the past few weeks from the old terminal building and came back to the nearly $600-million new one on its inaugural day. Many of them gazed with amazement at the 55 skylights overlooking the arrivals area as they descended the stairs to get their luggage and few were in a rush to leave, as there was much exploring to do.

And what grand opening would be complete without catered food? Passengers nibbled on chocolate-covered cherries and filled their paper cups with orange juice and ginger ale that flowed from punch fountains on both the arrival and departure levels.

Dufault was far from alone in wanting a souvenir. Passengers and curious onlookers were clicking their digital cameras and camera phones furiously mere hours after the new terminal building opened its doors for the first time.

The first passengers to christen the new facility were Shannon and Ryan Blair from Brandon, who were flying to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. They were greeted by executives from the Winnipeg Airports Authority and WestJet employees after they passed through security and were presented with a pair of free tickets anywhere the airline flies.

Faith and Paul Pritchard didn’t win any prizes, but after being in four different airports in a matter of a few days, they were impressed by the speed and ease of checking in for their flight home to Thompson.

“This building is something to be proud of, it’s very modern. There are views every which way,” Paul Pritchard said.

His wife agreed. “It’s lovely. The colours are very soothing and comfortable.”

Genevieve Maltais, a Montreal native studying anthropology at the University of Manitoba, said she appreciated all the open space, which started with the glass boarding bridge connecting her plane to the terminal building.

“It’s so much bigger and having everything glass is really nice, especially since I’ve been on a plane for the past (four hours),” she said.

Even some pilots were impressed with the new building. Capt. Stephen Moore, who has been flying for Air Canada for the last six years, said the facility seemed “very clean, modern and efficient.”

“We’ve gone from one of the most dated and retro terminals to the newest,” he said.

Moore said the many food and shopping options on the post-security side would be much appreciated by both travellers and airline staff, particularly when flights are delayed. The abundance of comfortable seating areas didn’t go unnoticed either.

“It’s nice to put your feet up in a nice, spacious environment,” he said.

Dufault said it appeared as if the transition from the old to new had been seamless for passengers.

“Maybe my bag is at the old building. Ooh, la, la!” he said with a laugh.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

Relief… everything worked

Two of the principal architects of the new air terminal building at the James Armstrong Richardson International airport — one literal, the other figurative — were beaming like proud parents Sunday morning as passengers and meeters and greeters buzzed around them.

Barry Rempel, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Airports Authority, likened his position to being the coach of a successful team that had just pushed the puck over the goal line.

“It’s almost surreal. I’ve been living this for so long and to see people’s faces when they walk in here for the first time not knowing what to expect, it’s exciting,” he said.

Rempel said he couldn’t help but notice one couple from B.C. as he oversaw the transition to the new facility early Sunday morning. They had arrived at 2 a.m. for their flight that didn’t take off for another eight hours.

“They said they thought it would be neat to be here first,” he said.

David Essex, a principal at Stantec, the prime consultant on the building, stood in the arrivals area and said the long-awaited opening represented the culmination of more than seven years of work.

“It’s a great day. This is the indoor equivalent of Portage and Main. It’s a ‘welcome to Winnipeg’ space. This is the signature space for the airport and we’re really proud of it,” he said.

As much as Rempel was happy to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the new air terminal building, Day 1 was more about pomp and circumstance.

“Everything worked,” he said with a smile.

Sentimental journey

Many arriving passengers at the new air terminal building on Sunday couldn’t help but feel a little sad as they started home.

Mere moments after getting into their vehicles or taxis after walking out of the new facility, they passed by the old terminal building, uncharacteristically dark and locked up just a few hours after seeing its final passenger.

“Thanks for the memories,” read the sign erected in front of its doors.

Barry Rempel, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Airports Authority, said there was a festive yet sentimental atmosphere during the changeover. A number of employees in the old facility signed their names on the walls before they closed up for the final time.

The building will still be a hub of activity for some time, however. He said the art work at both the north and south ends will soon be taken down and shipped off to new homes and the “decommissioning” of the building will begin shortly after.

Some of the passenger boarding bridges from the old facility will be sent to smaller airports while others will be used for parts.

“Whatever can be reused from that building will be reused,” he said.

The WAA also visited the retail employees at the old building and presented them with gift baskets full of chocolate, candy and cookies.