Survey finds terminal improvements as area of greatest need as Kamloops Airport

Increased natural light was “the strongest and most consistent response” around environmental and sustainability improvements at Kamloops Airport, followed by energy-efficient lighting and heating systems as well as enhanced waste and recycling options.

“YKA sincerely thanks all respondents for their time and input,” Jim Moroz, the airport’s managing director, said. “Your feedback is actively shaping the Air Terminal Rehabilitation project and ensures that the improvements made reflect the priorities and expectations of our community.”

The survey, which ran from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5, comes as Moroz and his team work on a three-phased renovation plan to improve the overall passenger experience.

The first phase will focus on an expansion of the departures lounge without changing the footprint of the existing building. This phase will also include an expanded food and beverage option as well as new restrooms in the departure lounge.

“Through our studies and planning work, what we’ve found is that the non-secure side [the check-in area] is oversized for our passengers whereas the secure side [the departure lounge] is undersized,” Moroz told CFJC in early December.

“What we’re doing as opposed to adding more square footage to the building is we’re taking some of that non-secure space and repurposing it, so there’s a better feeling in the departures lounge where most of our passengers spend the majority of their time.”

Phase two of the project will address the area of the terminal building where bags are sorted and taken to and from aircraft on the tarmac, while phase three will feature a redesign of what Moroz called “the non-secure space to optimize usage.”

“[The first phase] certainly has the most impact on the traveller and it’s the one that we’re addressing first,” Moroz added.

The renovation work is contingent on a successful grant application from the B.C. Air Access Program (BCAAP) program, with applications due by Jan. 16, 2026. The project will also used money collected in the form of airport improvement fees, which in Kamloops is $15 and reflected in a passenger’s fare.

“We have a passenger forecast out to 2042 and we’ve built a phased terminal development to meet that forecast,” Moroz said. “We went after provincial funding last year and we weren’t successful as there just wasn’t money there to support all the projects.”

“We had a good proposal and we’re going after funding again, and we’re hopeful that this year, we get a different result.”

According to YKA, the survey also gathered feedback on flight operations and airline destinations. While that is beyond the scope of the planned renovations, Moroz notes the feedback will help identify opportunities to enhance the overall traveller experience and guide future improvements.

“The responses reflected a deep pride in YKA and strong support for its continued growth,” Moroz added. “Many respondents emphasized the importance of ensuring the terminal provides a welcoming first impression of Kamloops for visitors.”

You can find more information about the planned renovations here.

by Victor Kaisar

Survey finds terminal improvements as area of greatest need as Kamloops Airport

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