If you’re flying out from the Regina International Airport this Christmas, you’ll be able to enjoy Tim Horton’s coffee and a sandwich after the security checkpoint.
On August 8th, YQR CEO James Bogusz unveiled the new plan to the press.
“Today is an extremely proud day for the Regina Airport Authority,” Bogusz said, gesturing to the area that would soon be home to the updated concourse.
“We have announced a wonderful renovation project to our second floor for our customers. For our passengers who use this airport, they are looking for better experiences post-security. And our renovation, which is valued at over a million dollars is realigning some of the walls on the second floor to facilitate the changes in service and airside retail.
“Our Tim Horton’s, our Skyway, and our Relay gift store will now be available post-security around Christmastime this year.”
Prior to this, there weren’t any full service restaurants or vendors available post-security other than limited kiosks. You either had to consume your meal prior to passing security, or, if you were past the screening area and wanted a bite, your options were very limited. An annoyance at the best of times, at others, often downright impossible for families with an army of hungry kids.
That scenario, come the holidays, will be a thing of the past.
This is attractive to travellers, especially given how this last puzzle piece compliments the airport’s other advantages.
YQR’s airport layout is already quite popular with people that use it because of its manageable size. Yorkton travellers can quickly take a regional flight right to the Yorkton airport from Regina, and do so without being hungry.
“We’ve also heard loud and clear from our customers that they want things for their children to do,” explains Bogusz.
“And we’re going to be adding a children’s play area -- post-security. We believe that we want our passengers to have a stress free experience.”
The design of the airport appears to reflect that belief.
The stress of getting lost in a huge airport doesn’t really happen at the Regina Airport because of its central layout. Signage is clearly laid out and, when you walk in the front doors of the main concourse, departures are to your immediate left -- and arrivals are to your immediate right.
The restaurants and retail outlets won’t be the only improvement, either.
“This whole area of our terminal where the seating is today in our food court, will now be a post-security experience, with brand new seating, USB plugs for devices, and a great opportunity to wait for your aircraft in a freshly renovated space. And this is Phase I. The airport is going to be rolling our a multi-year plan to continue to enhance our airside and make sure that our customers know that this is a world class airport,” Bogusz says.
“We’re proud to be the capital city of Saskatchewan. We’re going to deliver that to all our residents in Regina, and, of course, our entire catchment area.”
