Welcome to the website for the
St. John's International Airport Master Plan
This website has been created to provide publicly available information about the Airport Master Plan currently being prepared for St. John's International Airport (CYYT). It also provides an opportunity for anyone to leave feedback, comments or questions related to the Master Plan.
What is an Airport Master Plan?
An Airport Master Plan (AMP) is a comprehensive plan for an airport that provides a rational long-term vision, typically for the next 20 years. This plan protects airport lands for long-term operational and business objectives, such as the future development of a new commercial area or addition of pavements to the airport’s taxiway system.
The AMP also assists airport management in making informed, strategic decisions when the time comes to make them. Its content is not set in stone – it is not a regulatory document, or a rigid, prescriptive plan, but rather a flexible, living document that can be adapted in light of changing social, economic and/or environmental conditions. The Airport is not bound to implement any of the recommendations in the AMP.
The AMP also documents what may be in store for the Airport to inform stakeholders and allow for consultation and discussion with anyone who may be interested in or impacted by these plans. In fact, feedback is welcomed; please keep reading for a response form where you are welcome to provide us with your thoughts.
Each recommendation, including implementation and timing, is assessed from the perspective of many criteria, including operational necessity, the Airport’s financial capability, and a review of cost v. benefit of that recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are Airport Master Plans updated?
AMP typically covers a 20+ year planning horizon and are updated at regular intervals to reflect changes to the airport, surrounding community and regional and international social, environmental and economic environments.
I have a question about the Master Plan. Who do I reach out to?
Any questions, comments or concerns can be submitted using the comment box in the Public Outreach section of this website. All responses are reviewed by the Airport and, where applicable, answered or considered during the development of the AMP. Alternatively, you may choose to reach out to the Airport directly using the contact details at the bottom of this page.
What are the different components of an airport master plan?
An AMP is comprised of several components. It provides background on the airport, including history and purpose; analyzes existing airport facilities and infrastructure to document their states; provides the results of demand forecasts and capacity analyses conducted; details anticipated needs for the Airport over the 20-30 year planning horizon for the plan; presents a recommended airport development plan and land use plan; speaks to environmental considerations; and provides a capital and phasing plan to prioritize and estimate anticipated costs for all recommendations.
What is an Airport Development Plan and Land Use Plan?
An Airport Development Plan is a comprehensive plan that outlines the future growth and development of an airport. It includes recommended physical changes, such as expansion, construction, relocation or even removal of air terminal buildings, runways, taxiways, and other infrastructure to expand passenger and cargo capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the overall airport user experience. The airport development plan takes into account current trends in aviation, projected future growth in air traffic, environmental impact assessments, and community feedback.
The Airport Land Use Plan is based on the Airport Development Plan. It illustrates which land use category each facility or portion of the airport would fall under. Some examples of land use categories are Air Terminal, Airside System, Transportation and Parking, Airside Commercial, Landside Commercial and Airport Reserve. The ultimate goal of an airport land use plan is to allow for safe and efficient airport operations while also promoting compatible adjacent land uses on airport lands.
How is demand for airport services and facilities determined?
After all relevant data is collected at the outset of the AMP project, a number of demand analyses, including aircraft traffic and passenger forecasts, are conducted and prepared in line with industry best practices and combined with the feedback heard from the Airport and stakeholders to determine the course of action that is the most feasible and sustainable.
How is funding for airport improvements and expansion determined in the master plan?
The airport capital and phasing plan, prepared toward the end of the master planning process, attaches a numerical value to each of the recommendations proposed in the Master Plan and prioritizes them with an emphasis on balance between urgency and financial feasibility.
The Planning Process
The St. John's Airport 2024-2045 AMP will follow the typical AMP Process as supported by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Travel Association (IATA).
The process begins with Data Collection, in which an evaluation and inventory of the Airport takes place and stakeholder and public consultations begin to obtain as much information as possible about the Airport to consider during the development of the Master Plan.
Based on collected data, opportunities and constraints for the Airport are identified and an aviation activity forecast is created to generate anticipated future conditions upon which the Master Plan will be based.
In the Needs Assessment, infrastructure, facility, land and other requirements are identified; community and environmental impacts are assessed and preliminary development options for future airport growth and development are prepared and evaluated.
After the evaluation of airport development concepts, a recommended option is selected and refined for the Airport Development Plan, and a Land Use Plan is developed based on it.
Next, the first draft of the Master Plan is prepared, followed by the 20-year capital and phasing plan to guide development priority and estimate costs required to undertake such development. Finally, the AMP final draft is completed and submitted.
Project Schedule
1. Data Collection (Underway)
2. Opportunities and Constraints (Underway)
3. Needs Assessment (Underway)
4. Recommended Development Plan
5. First Draft of AMP
6. Prepare Capital and Phasing Plan
7. Finalize AMP
Public Outreach & Consultation
Your Opinion Matters.
A key component of any Airport Master Plan (AMP) is the collection of feedback from airport stakeholders, business and tourism partners, municipal governments, and community members the Airport serves.
Stakeholder Engagement
Airport stakeholders, tenants, and municipalities were invited to in-person and/or virtual engagement sessions to share insight on their operations and use of the Airport.
Public Information Session
We will be hosting a Public Information Session to ensure the AMP reflects the values and priorities of St. John's and surrounding communities, and to obtain the public’s input. The Session will include interactive stations with display boards showing, in draft, the key components of the AMP. Members of the project team will be available to answer questions.
Join us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Airport for the Public Information Session.
Your Airport,
Your Voice.
It Matters.
Website
Your voice matters to us: if you have any thoughts, concerns, or questions about the Airport and this AMP, please don't hesitate to reach out using the form. Each response will be read and considered. All responses are confidential.
Visit our Website regularly to stay updated on the AMP's progress and any future engagement opportunities.