Springbank Airport was constructed on the former MacLaurin farm by Transport Canada to provide Calgary International Airport with a reliever airport; shifting smaller aircraft and deferring the need for a parallel runway at YYC...!!

The Airport began operations in February 1969 and was officially opened in July 1971. In October of 1997, the operation management of Springbank Airport was transferred from the Federal Government of Canada to The Calgary Airport Authority under long-term lease agreement.

Since 1997, the airport has undergone a number of changes to meet growing needs. Here's a look at what we've been up to:

1997

• October: The Calgary Airport Authority assumes operation of YBW.

2001

• July: NAV CANADA officially opens the new control tower. The old tower is removed. 

2002

• The Department of National Defence (DND) takes over YBW in the weeks leading up to the G8 summit in Kananaskis. CFB YBW becomes a temporary home to more than 1,200 soldiers and the largest assembly of Griffin Helicopters in Canadian Air Force history. 

2004

• The Calgary Airport Authority approves capital funding for the extension of Runway 16/34 and widening of Taxiway A. 

2005

• Construction of the runway begins. More than 560,000 cubic meters of earth work is required for the extension. 

2006

• The extended runway is opened in October after 16 months of construction while the Airport remained operational.

2007

• Alberta Sustainable Resources begins forestry tanker base operations. YBW becomes home to Conair's fleet of Convair and Ag Tractor aircraft for use in protecting the Banff/Kananaskis corridor from forest fires. 
• Our GPS approach is approved.
• Light jet traffic is introduced.
• Runway 07/25 receives an overlay and new paint.

2008

• A new non-precision ILS is certified by NAV CANADA for Runway 34. 
• Taxiway D is extended.

2009

• Taxiway E and G are extended.
• Sanitary systems are upgraded.
• Taxiway D receives a needed overlay.
• Runway guard lights are installed on Runway 16/34.

2010

• Taxiway C is repaved from Taxiway A to the threshold of Runway 25. 
• Taxiway D is repaved between Runway 07/25 and Taxiway A.

2011

• A two bay expansion to the existing maintenance garage is completed.
• An administration area is constructed at the west end of the maintenance garage.
• A new passenger/pilot/CANPASS hold room is added to the south end of the new admin area.
• Taxiway F rehabilitation is undertaken.
• Earlier Instrument Landing System (ILS) is replaced with new PARK AIR ILS system

2013

• All runways at Springbank Airport are re-numbered to adjust for the shift in the location of the magnetic north pole. Runway 16/34 becomes 17/35, and Runway 07/25 becomes 08/26. 

The airport is now home to more than 70 businesses, more than 50 hangers and more than 400 aircraft.In order to continue to meet ongoing and anticipated growth in aircraft movement volumes, the Springbank Airport Master Plan calls for installation of additional facilities on the airport lands, including construction of a parallel north/south runway and additional associated taxi-ways, along with further land development. More information can be found in the Airport Growth section of this website.