Air Canada is constructing a new 50,000 sq ft facility to house its ground support equipment service and cargo teams at Edmonton International Airport.

Air Canada Cargo will occupy 20,000 sq ft of the building, which will provide modern, upgraded airfreight facilities and include technology that will improve the flow of goods at the Alberta gateway.

Kevin Howlett, senior vice president, regional markets and government relations at the airline, said that Air Canada Cargo “has significant business in Alberta and Western Canada, and with air freight and logistics being a rapidly growing sector, we have a strong focus on infrastructure improvement across our network”.

Air Canada Cargo handled 3,200 tonnes of airfreight at Edmonton during 2017. Key verticals included pharma, mail, art pieces and equipment for the oil and gas industry.

The remaining 30,000 sq ft of the new facility will accommodate Air Canada’s ground support equipment service division.

The building is set to open in September 2019. Constructed by Terracap Group, it will involve a $19 m investment by Air Canada over the term of its 15-year lease.