Regina International Airport

Regina International Airport is classified as a facility of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the CBSA officers. CBSA agents at YQR can handle aircraft with no more than 120 passengers. However, it is possible to handle up to 250 if the plane is unloaded in stages.

Regina International Airport

Regina International Airport is classified as a facility of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the CBSA officers. CBSA agents at YQR can handle aircraft with no more than 120 passengers. However, it is possible to handle up to 250 if the plane is unloaded in stages.

Early aviation (1911-28)

The first place in Regina used for flying represented the infield at Regina Exhibition Park’s horse race track, where visiting barnstormer “Lucky Bob” St. Pierre flew a Curtiss Model D biplane in 1911. Several other barnstormers, especially aviator Katherine Stinson who came from the famous aviation family, appeared in Regina and other cities in the years after that. Still, there was virtually no other aviation activity in Western Canada during WWI.

After the WWI, Regina Roland Groome came back from military service as a flying instructor in Southern Ontario and, with partners, established a company called the “Aerial Service Co.” Its primitive airfield was situated near what is the current intersection of Cameron Street and Hill Avenue in the city’s southern Lakeview district. In 1920, federal government regulators assigned the field the designation of the first licensed “air harbor” of Canada. Groome also received Canadian commercial pilot’s license No. 1, and mechanic Robert McCombie was given air engineer’s license No. 1.

Recent history (1990-present)

A $24-million expansion began in 2004, increasing the capacity to 1.2 million passengers annually. The first stage of the development included the extension of the terminal. It introduced a larger post-security holding room, an expansion to the international arrivals area, another passenger loading bridge, and more luggage carousels. The first phase was finished in August 2005.

The second phase is currently underway and includes a further expansion for security facilities and services for new tenants like stores and eating establishments (including Tim Hortons). In 2009, development started on two new jetways, one between gates 5 and 6, to the right side of the glass atrium, and the other as an offshoot of gate 1.