History

With a newly constructed runway built by Transport Canada, the first commercial flights at the Val-d’Or airport began in 1950. Five years later, the airport functions became military as the Canadian Armed Forces established an air defence base and constructed numerous buildings and installations on the west side of the runway.

The airport becomes an advanced military outpost in 1962 and the civilian airport zone is relocalised on the east side of the runway. Transport Canada builds an air terminal in 1967.

In 1976, the Canadian Armed Forces closed the base, Transport Canada repossesses the airport and beginning in 1978, renews the infrastructures in order to offer better services.
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In August 1995, Transport Canada lauches a ten (10) million dollars development program to support the growing needs of air traffic. This program includes the construction of an airport complex located on the west side of the runway that includes an air terminal, a long term/shot term parking lot, an airplane parking zone and a freight zone. The complex is inaugurated on June 5th, 1987 underlined with the coming of Air France Concorde.

With these additions, Val-d’Or airport is now in a position of better to answer the needs of air transportation for today and tomorrow.

Important Events

1949

 The ministry of Transportation grants Val-d’Or city a 25,000$ grant for the construction of an airport.
1950

Canadian Pacific Air Lines begins to offer regular flights between Montreal an Val-d’Or using DC-3 planes.

The federal ministry of Transportation grants 62,000$ for the expansion airport.
1951

The runway is lengthened to 6,000 feet.
1954

The responsibility of the airport is transferred to the Department of National Defence and an military base is established.
1956 et 1961 Runway 18-36 is widened to 200 feet and lengthened to 8,200 feet.
1962

CF-101 planes are stationed in Val-d’Or.
The runway is again lengthened, now to 10,000 feet in order to meet military needs.

The ministry of Transportation signs a contract with Air Canada to manage the civilian air terminal.

A new air terminal is constructed.
1972  The traffic area is enlarged.

An instrument landing system is installed.

Nordair and Québecair move into the new air terminal.

Air Canada adds two daily flights to it’s schedule.

Nordair offers a new direct flight between Montreal and Val-d’Or.

Québecair lauches it’s service between Quebec and Val-d’Or.
1976 Heli-Voyageur and Air Abitibi are born.
1980 Austin Airways begins to offer their services.
1982

Air Creebec and First Air are born.

Nordair start regular freight service between Val-d’Or and Kuujjuaq and Frobisher Bay (Iqaluit).
1987

Construction of a new complex located on the west side of the runway
that includes an air terminal, short term/long term parking lots, an airplane parking zone and a freight zone.
1994-95

Transport Canada procedes to a runway repavement; an investment of 4 million dollars.
1997

Transport Canada signs a declaration of intentions with “Val-d’Or Regional Airport” to prepare the transfer of the airport.
1999 Val-d’Or Regional Airport (ARVO) becomes owner and operator of the airport.