History
Connecting Waterloo Region to the world since 1929!
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Norman Schneider of Schneider Meats led the charge both times
- P.K. Weber's horses cleared the land at Lexington Field
- Robert Dietrich of Weston Bakery helped select the current Breslau site
- Louis Breithaupt local Member of Parliament secured funding
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Ira Needles of B. F. Goodrich welcomed the first customs flight
2020's
2024 – Stockyards Beverage Company at YKF opens featuring a licensed dining area, food, beverage and retail offerings that celebrate everything Waterloo Region has to offer. Including a curated line of products from local suppliers, including YKF merchandise, Jet Stream coffee and lager.
2024 - The Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre opens the Aviation SIM Centre and Innovation Hub a state-of-the-art facility, developed in partnership with the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA), houses three new flight simulators: a Boeing 737, De Havilland Q-400, and Airbus 320.
2024 – Air Canada launches luxury motorcoach service to Toronto Pearson International Airport connecting to 140+ destinations worldwide.
2023 (May) – Official opening of YKFs newly constructed outbound baggage system to improve efficiency, able to process up to 400 bags per hour (previously 120).
2023 (May) – Chartright Air Group doubles the size of their operation with the opening of Hangar 64. The Fixed Base Operator boasts 100,000 square feet of hangar space and 150,000 square feet of ramp space.
2022 (July) – Official opening of YKFs newly constructed 20,000 square foot departure lounge with seating for 500 and six boarding gates to improve efficiency.
2022 (Apr) – Official opening of the newly constructed 12,000 square foot domestic arrivals building. Enabling YKF to handle five Boeing 737 aircraft arrivals at a time, four Domestic and one International.
2022 (Mar) – YKF ranked the 6th busiest airport in Canada in 2021 with 133,293 aircraft movements (take-offs or landings) and 171,828 passengers recorded.
2021 (Oct) – YKF announces plans to double the size of the air terminal building footprint to meet growing passenger demand. Regional Council approved an $11 million dollar project that included the construction of two buildings (domestic arrivals and departure lounge) with baggage carousels, holding areas, food services, retail, and pre-board screening.
2021 (May) – YKF welcomes Flair Airlines Canada's only independent ultra-low cost airline launched service to six domestic destinations including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.
2020 (Mar) – All international outbound flights suspended due to COVID-19. YKF’s secondary runway and taxiway B closed to accommodate parking of commercial aircraft grounded in response to the global pandemic.
2010's
2018 - Chartright Air Group and the Region of Waterloo International Airport host business aviation’s biggest event, the Canadian Business Aviation Association convention and exhibit, CBAA 2018.
(Photo credit - Asaf Hussain - Seven Skies Studio)
2017 - Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre and the University of Waterloo celebrate four graduates gaining direct-entry positions as first officers with Sunwing Airlines.
Left to right: Bob Connors (Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre), Captain John Hudson, First Officers Cameron Fuchs, Spencer Leckie, Siobhan O’Hanlon, and Chelsea Anne Edwards, Captain Sam Gagliardi (all Sunwing Airlines) and Dr. Ian McKenzie (University of Waterloo)
2017 - State-of-the-art NAV Canada Air Traffic Control Tower opens. Regional Council approve a $375 million 20 Year Airport Master Plan.
2017 - WestJet celebrate 10 years of service between Waterloo Region and Calgary.
Left to right: WestJetters, Deb Lindsay, Sarah Waterfield, Jessica Gregory, Alex Ward and Sara Robinson
2015 - Run Waterloo host their first annual “Runway Run”, a two-mile run and walk held on the primary runway 08-26 at the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF).
2012 - American Airlines launch twice daily service to Chicago, Illinois. The service was suspended in October 2016.
2012 – Primary runway reconstruction completed in record time in May. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Airport Team, Capital Paving and MMM Group, the project was finished in 14 days.
2011 - New Airport Operations Centre opens combining operations, fleet maintenance and fire services under one roof. The $10.8 million received money from the federal and provincial infrastructure stimulus fund with the balance financed by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
2011 - Aviation Business Park 52 acre parcel of land serviced for development.
2010 - Royal visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to the Region of Waterloo on Monday, July 5th, 2010.
2000's
2010 - Airport cross trains operations team for Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) and purchases Oshkosh Striker fire truck.
2008 - Sunwing Vacations launch weekly seasonal service to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Runway approach lighting installed on the primary runway to improve visibility and reliability.
2007 - Bearskin Airlines launches service to Ottawa, Ontario then adds service to Montreal, Quebec. The airlines suspends all service to Ottawa airport in 2014 impacting Waterloo Region and four other communities.
2007 - WestJet Airlines launches non-stop daily service to Calgary, Alberta
2006 - Canada Border Services Agency relocated to the air terminal building.
2005 - 2009 Sunquest and Signature Vacations launch weekly seasonal service.
Photo credit: Pat Hannah
2004 - Northwest Airlines launches three flight daily to Detroit, Michigan. This triggers the addition of Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Services passenger screening service.
2003 - The primary runway is extended by 1,800 feet to a total of 7,000 feet to support passenger air service.
2003 - New Region of Waterloo International Airport terminal building opens.
1990's & 1980's
1996 - The Regional Municipality of Waterloo assumes full ownership of the airport.
1991 - The Federal government funds the installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS), Peripheral Airlink Transmitter, and relocated the VHF omnidirectional radio range transmitter (VOR) to the Airport. Federal Height Zoning Regulations are enacted.
1986 - The name of the Commission became the Waterloo-Guelph Airport Commission and the airport became the Waterloo-Guelph Regional Airport.
1984 - The primary runway is extended by 1,500 feet to 5,200 feet to accommodate long range jet aircraft with the financial support of Provincial Government.
1970's
1974 - The Cities of Kitchener, Galt, Waterloo, and the former Town of Preston agreed to transfer ownership of the airport to the City of Guelph and the newly formed Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
1973 - First air terminal building constructed and apron expanded to accommodate larger aircraft.
1970 - Aerial image of Waterloo Wellington Airport at this time 14/32 was the primary runway at 4,200 feet.
1960's
1969 - Air Traffic Control tower was built and operated by the Federal Government.
1966 - The Waterloo Wellington Weather office was opened by Environment Canada.
1964 - The Federal Government constructs a non-directional beacon north of the airport.
These improvements allowed the airport to become a fully serviced all weather facility.
1966 - The airports first fire truck is purchased a CJ-5 Jeep Fire Engine.
Today, the Jeep is in perfect working condition and used at airport events.
1961 - First hangar completed by the Waterloo Wellington Flight Club
1950's
1959 - The airport is certified for night time operations when edge lighting was installed by the Federal government.
1952 - B.F. Goodrich airplane from Akron, Ohio was the first to be cleared by customs at the Waterloo-Wellington Airport.
Left to right: airport manager Garth Massey, immigration officer Buchanan, Kitchener chief clerk of customs and excise H. A. Rogers, Goodrich employee Frank Sherry, Goodrich president Ira Needles, Kitchener Mayor Weber, Goodrich vice-president J.M Robbins, airport commission chairman Norman Schneider, airport commissioner Robert Dietrich, Bill Maxwell and alderman Abe Wells of Guelph.
1951 - Launch of first scheduled passenger service from Waterloo-Wellington Airport to Malton (today Toronto Pearson Airport). Garf's Flying Service early morning flight allowed passengers to connect into Trans Canada Airlines (today Air Canada) to reach national and international destinations.
Left to right: Waterloo Mayor Bauman, Clare Millar, Airport Commission chairman Norman Schneider, pilot Garf Schmidt, co-pilot Ray Reid, Robert Dietrich and Tom Daley.
1950 - The Waterloo Wellington Airport was officially opened with 2 paved runways - one 3,700 ft and one 4,100 ft, 1 apron and 1 hangar
1950 - Aerial image of current airport during construction. 600 acres of farm land was cleared to make way for two runways and an apron.
1940's
1949 - Trade Minister C.D. Howe initiated work on the new Waterloo Wellington airfield. Howe was joined by local airport founding members including Norman Schneider
1949 - The municipalities acquire approximately 640 acres from 8 farmers at a cost of $71,170.
1948 - The Waterloo-Wellington Airport Commission is formally established to oversee a new site selection and construction of a new airport. Appointed members from the Cities of Kitchener, Guelph, Galt, Waterloo, and the Town of Preston were represented on the Commission.
1946 - Telegram - As chairman of the airport commission Norman Schneider, received the telegram above from local Member of Parliament, Louis Breithaupt, pledging support for the new airport. This unique arrangement was the first of its kind in Canada and the Federal Government committed $452,000.00 to the project. Another $124,000.00 of the cost was divided among and paid for by the municipalities of Kitchener, Guelph, Galt, Waterloo and Preston.
1946 - Aerial image current location of YKF site (pre-construction). Site selected by Norman Schneider (Schneider Meats) and Robert Dietrich (Weston Bakery). The cities of Kitchener, Guelph, Galt, Waterloo and Preston worked together to create the Waterloo-Wellington Airport commission.
1946 - Record newspaper delivery by Garf Schmidt
1940 - Kitchener-Waterloo Municipal Airport postcard. Instead of lawn mowers sheep were used to keep the grass short.
1930's & 1920's
1934 - Twenty year old Mary M. Weber earned her private pilot's license through the Kitchener-Waterloo Flying Club at Lexington Airfield.
1934 - The Kitchener-Waterloo Airport was one of only four locations in Canada visited of the British Hawker Fury fighters. Led by Wing Commander Pirie, a crowd of ten thousand enjoyed the air show.
Admission price: ten cents
1930 - Ford Motor Company executives arrive at the Kitchener-Waterloo Airport in a Ford trimotor aircraft.
1929 - The Kitchener-Waterloo Airport opens at Lexington Field thanks to local businessmen Norman Schneider and Robert Dietrich.
1929 - Construction begins. News clipping shows mules and horses from P.K. Weber's livery stables clearing the land. The sports field at Lexington Park, 291 Lexington Road in Waterloo, was the first site of the Kitchener-Waterloo Municipal Airport, also known as Lexington Airport. The 83 acre airfield consisted of sandy loam with a quick drying gravel base and included two grass runways - 1,800 and 2,000 feet. The airfield extended along the southeast side of Lexington Road to University Avenue. Norman Schneider was instrumental in establishing the airport.