In 1938, the Fort St. John Board of Trade sponsored the construction of an airport, and approached the Department of Transport for financial assistance. As there was no municipality, the department asked the province to purchase the site and operate the proposed airport that Transport was prepared to construct. The province, however, refused this offer in July 1939.
The department wanted an airport at Fort St. John as part of the new airway planned between Edmonton and Whitehorse, by way of Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, and Watson Lake. When the province refused to participate, the Department of Transport purchased the site and constructed a landing strip 4,000 feet by 400 feet (1,219 metres by 122 metres) that was completed in the spring of 1940.
When the United States entered World War II, the Edmonton to Whitehorse route took on greater significance and was developed into the Northwest Staging Route to Alaska. A big construction program was undertaken in 1942 to connect the existing airfields with the Alaska Highway (which opened to traffic in 1943) and to provide additional emergency fields and navigation aids between Edmonton and Northway, Alaska. This involved the American forces in a large building program including the Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake, and Whitehorse sites, and the construction of five landing strips between Fort St. Johm and the Alaska boundary. In 1943, American contractors assumed responsibility for the completion of the work at a number of airports, including Fort St. John. The US Air Force constructed a completely new facility at a location east of the community which today remains the Fort St. John Airport. The original airport was closed down at the end of the war. Canada bought all the facilities that were constructed by the US.
The Department of Transport took over Fort St. John airport on April 10, 1951. However, civilian staff were brought onto this site as early as October 1950. The permanent airport licence was issued in the name of the Department of Transport on December 8, 1951.
Approximately $1.5 million-worth of wartime runway development and reconditioning was completed in November 1958, and extension of the two runways resulted in their current lengths: 11-29, 6,900 feet (2,103 metres); 02-20, 6,700 feet (2,042 metres); and an operational width of 200 feet (61 metres).
Alterations and additions to the air terminal building were completed in January 1960 and, shortly thereafter, approach lighting was installed on both runways. The late 1960s saw the construction of the airport maintenance garage and fire hall, and the commissioning of a Visual Omni Range (VOR).
A new terminal was built in 1971-1972, and the old facility was modified as an operations building with space provided for CP Air, this building was torn down in 1981. A new operations building was constructed in 1978 and houses air traffic and flight service operations, electronics maintenance, atmospheric environment, and all administrative activities.
In the period 1986-1988, all of the major airport infrastructure systems with the exception of the terminal were replaced or upgraded: a new entrance road and parking facility; water, sewer and storm water systems; expanded air terminal apron; new electrical generation and distribution systems; and the overlay of runway 11-29 and its associated taxiways. The fire hall was expanded and the maintenance area was rebuilt. All of these changes represent an estimated total capital investment of $6 million.
Canadian Airlines International and its partner Time Air operate daily B-737 and Fokker F-28 services to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Fort Nelson, Watson Lake and Whitehorse. Major services are also provided by Air BC to the Vancouver and Edmonton markets.
Although the community is marginally remote, the Fort St. John Airport is an important transfer point for oil-field and construction workers, technical support, service personnel and visiting management. It also serves as a vacation departure point for the residents of northeastern British Columbia.
The economic boom and bust nature of the local oil and gas based economy greatly affects the airport's business: the price hike in the 1970s resulted in increased aircraft movements from 40,542 in 1976 to 76,473 in 1980. Movements declined to 35,198 by 1985, and in 1988 there were only 23,840. The number of passengers was 155,506 in 1976, 259,700 in 1980; and 160,000 in 1985. By 1988, passenger traffic had risen again to 177,576.
Updated: December 19, 2004