Oil changes, vehicle detailing coming to Saskatoon airport

Visitors to the Saskatoon International Airport currently have to deal with a lot of construction around the curbside drop off but it's all part of a bigger plan.

The recently released Airport Master Plan 2040 details a range of improvements to the airport to accommodate a growing Saskatoon population.

Some of the improvements visitors will see this fall when new parking options are available: Valet, Standard, Express, and Jetset.

How do we connect our guests more to the globe?- Stephen Maybury, Saskatoon Airport president and CEO

Valet will have curbside drop off and optional services like oil changes and detailing while you're away.

Standard parking will be located in the current Saskatoon Airport parking lot, as will Express parking, which will be reserved spots in the front row of the Standard parking.

Jetset will be the economy option with remote parking and a shuttle that takes you to the airport terminal.

The curbside drop off will see doubled capacity with separate access for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, as well as covered shelters, improved landscaping and a fenced area for dogs.

People want more connections

Saskatoon Airport President and CEO Stephen Maybury told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning public consultations were conducted as part of their planning and the number one request from the public was one-stop connectivity.

"That basically determines the air service network plan that we have," Maybury said. "In a holistic way, how do we connect our guests more to the globe?"

He added that they're looking to increase connections to Europe, Montreal, and Vancouver into Asia. 

The recent upgrades to the terminal almost doubled the square footage within the building post-security, which Maybury said should accommodate growth for the next 10 to 15 years.

Next, they'll be looking to the skies with upgrades to the runways and aprons.

Saskatoon's airport saw 1,463,000 passengers in 2017.