<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">History Of St. John's International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para "><strong>World War II:</strong>Concern was expressed in the Canadian Parliament as early as September 1939 for the security of the Dominion of Newfoundland (which was not yet a part of Canada) in the event of a German raid or attack. It was felt that a permanent airfield defense facility was needed and as a result discussions were carried out among Canada, Newfoundland and the United Kingdom during 1940. In late 1940 the Canadian Government agreed to construct an air base near St. John's.Early in 1941, Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King informed Newfoundland Governor Sir Humphrey T. Walwyn of the intended location in Torbay.Newfoundland agreed, but stipulated that Canada was to</p>
<p class="blog-para ">assume all expenses and that the aerodrome not be used for civil purposes without first receiving Newfoundland's permission. The Canadian Government agreed, and in April 1941 McNamara Construction Company began construction on the runway. At a cost of approximately $1.5 million, a pair of runways, taxiways, aprons, hangars and other facilities were built and in operation by the end of 1941. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) officially opened Torbay Airport on December 15, 1941. It was jointly used by the RCAF, Royal Air Force (RAF), and the United States Army Air Corps until December 1946.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">On October 18, 1941, three American B-17 Flying Fortress and one RCAF Digby made the first unofficial landings on the only serviceable runway available. Later that month a British Overseas Airways Corporation B-24 Liberator en route from Prestwick, Scotland, to Gander, made the first sanctioned landing during a weather emergency. The first commercial air service at the facility went into operation on May 1, 1942, with the arrival at Torbay of a Trans-Canada Air Lines Lockheed Lodestar aircraft with five passengers and three crew. The first terminal building at the site was constructed in 1943. The small wooden structure was replaced by a larger brick building in 1958</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Infrastructure St. John's International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para ">St. John&rsquo;s International Airport Authority has invested $270 million to enhance and improve the Airport&rsquo;s facilities since the Airport was privatized in 1998. The unprecedented growth in passenger volume experienced at our Airport and the identified areas for operational improvements for the airfield has culminated in a $245 million further investment in the Airport&rsquo;s facilities to accommodate the forecasted annual two million passengers by 2021. This 10-year Airport Improvement and Expansion Plan includes the installation of a Category III Instrument Landing System on the principal runway, and runway end safety areas (RESAs) on both main runways, and</p>
<p class="blog-para ">the Expansion of the Terminal Building as it doubles its existing size (387,000 square feet). Both runway initiatives have been completed and became operational in early 2016. We will continue to operate a safe and efficient Airport that will be the pride of our community.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Runways St. John's International Airport</p>
<p class="blog-para ">St. John&rsquo;s International Airport has two main runways and three separate apron areas, connected by eight (8) hard surface taxiways. These runways are strategically aligned to accommodate heavy cross winds. At a length of 8,500 feet, the principal runway (Runway 11/29) has been utilized by all sizes of aircraft and is supported by Category III instrument landing systems.</p>
<p class="blog-para "><strong>The runway sizes are listed below:</strong></p>
<p class="blog-para ">Runway 11/29 (principal runway) &ndash; 8500 feet x 200 feet (2600m x 60m)</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Runway 16/34 &ndash; 7000 feet x 200 feet (2100m x 60m)</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Runway 02/20 &ndash; 5025 feet x 100 feet (1500m x 30m)</p>
<p class="blog-para "><strong>Some notable aircraft that have landed at the airport:</strong></p>
<p class="blog-para ">Antonov 124 (Russian)</p>
<p class="blog-para ">C 5A Galaxy</p>
<p class="blog-para ">C-141Starlifter</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Concorde (Air France)</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Variety of Military Aircraft</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Contribution to the Economy St. John's International Airport</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Of St. John's International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/stjo/1.webp" alt="History Of St. John's International Airport" width="950" height="500"></p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Terminal and renovations St. John's International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para ">In 1981 the terminal building housed the offices of the airport manager and staff. There were ticket offices for Eastern Provincial Airways, Air Canada, Gander Aviation and Labrador Airways, a large waiting area, a secure departure lounge, a self-serve restaurant, a licensed lounge, a number of food concessions and car rental facilities. In 1981 a small museum was prepared to house the story of aviation in Newfoundland and related memorabilia. Air Canada started flying to London, UK, from St. John's instead of Gander in April 1986.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">The airport underwent a $50 million renovation in 2002. The air terminal was completely renovated, expanded and modernized to meet the standards of other airport terminals its size across North America. The airport has undergone more renovations since then and plans are in place to prepare 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land to build an industrial park adjacent to the airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">The airport was designated as one of five Canadian airports suitable as an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle orbiter.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">In May 2006, Air Canada announced it would terminate its flight to London's Heathrow Airport later that year. Many Newfoundland residents, including the mayor of St. John's, decried the decision, leading Air Canada to resume the route seasonally in April 2007. In May 2007, Astraeus Airlines introduced year-round service to London's Gatwick Airport aboard a Boeing 737.</p>
<p class="blog-para ">Air Canada restarted seasonal flights to London-Heathrow in May 2010. The company employed an Airbus A319 on the route. In 2014, Air Canada began flying year-round to London. It later started operating the flight with a Boeing 737 MAX. The airline suspended the link after the plane was grounded in March 2019</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">Restaurants and cafeterias St. John's International Airport</h2>
<ul>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Shops and duty free</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Wi-Fi access</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Baggage storage</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> ATMs</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Currency Exchange</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Post Office</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Luggage Trolleys </strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Spa</strong></li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong> Shoe Shine Service</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="History Of St. John's International Airport" src="../../../main/img/airport/stjo/2.webp" alt="History Of St. John's International Airport" width="950" height="500"></p>