Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport (YQM)

Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport

Previously named Greater Moncton International Airport, the facility was renamed in 2016, after the former Governor-General Roméo LeBlanc.

The GMIA handled approximately 665,630 travelers and 111,887 aircraft movements in 2017.

The property is classified as a facility of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) representatives. CBSA agents at YQM currently can handle aircraft with up to 300 commuters.

History

On January 11, 1928, the very first scheduled air flight out of the Greater Moncton area occurred. Both sites were considered for the first airstrip. Leger's Corner was selected due to the more favorable lending conditions. Part of the property was donated to the city of Moncton by Simon B. LeBlanc of Leger's Corner, a landowner, developer, and owner of the LeBlanc general store and post office conveniently located on the south corner of the currently named streets of Acadie Ave and Champlain St.

In 1929, a local private organization purchased the land at Léger's Corner airstrip, and through the years, two runways were built together with structures for aircraft maintenance. In the same year, the Moncton Aero Club was established, as was the International Airways Flying School. These later grew into the Moncton Flight College, one of the pre-eminent flight schools in the country. Also, in the same year, the facility expanded its airmail service to include Montreal and Prince Edward Island.

In 1936, the local government and Transport Canada discussed the chance of the construction of a facility suitable for trans-Canadian routes. The Léger's Corner place was unsuitable for expansion, and instead, it was decided to choose a site situated nearby Lakeburn as the new location for the airport. Two additional dirt landing strips and a paved runway were constructed.

Expansions and developments

In 1940, the Department of National Defence started a No. 8 Service Flying Training School(SFTF) at the recently developed RCAF Station Moncton under the auspices of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The school instructed war pilots for the Commonwealth countries. A new hangar was constructed at YQM during the war to serve as a maintenance and repair facility.

During the 1940s, civilian air services developed and became available serving Halifax, Montreal, Sydney, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Saint John, and Newfoundland. The hangar of Trans-Canada Airlines (later renamed to Air Canada), became the spot for the first air terminal. In 1952, a more extensive hangar was converted into a modern air terminal, but it was very soon after that destroyed by fire. In 1953, a replacement air terminal was built.

Further expansion in 1964 caused many changes to the facility, including an air traffic control tower as well as a new operations building. In 1976, the air terminal was again extended.

Throughout the years, a lot of improvements and renovations were performed to the air terminal building, including in 1998-99, an international arrivals section to suit the requirements of 1999's eighth Sommet de la Francophonie. A spacious landing apron was constructed at the same time on the opposite side of the property in a location that would later grow into the site of the new international airport terminal.

In 2001, the new, state-of-the-art international air terminal was finished and officially opened in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II. The Greater International Airport is currently the busiest in New Brunswick, by providing services to more than 552,629 passengers annually.

Both Purolator Courier and FedEx Express also have huge hangars at the airport.

Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport

Informational boxes