The existing air terminal building at Thompson Airport is plagued by a number of physical and operational constraints that severely limit the facility’s ability to meet the current and long term needs of the community and the air carriers that serve the airport. As a consequence, the Thompson Regional Airport Authority has embarked on a plan to replace the aging terminal building with the new ‘greenfield’ facility.
Thompson Airport is fairly unique among domestic airports in that it has two distinct departure flows with respect to passengers and baggage. Flights to Winnipeg require CATSA pre-board security screening and Hold Bag Screening (HBS), whereas, air service from Thompson to the remote communities does not require CATSA pre-board security screening. However, for those travelling to the remote communities, passenger screening is provided by the airlines at the request of the First Nations.
The design concept has all passenger processing functions and the administrative and tenant functions located on the ground floor level. In addition to the typical airport terminal public and support program areas, unique features of the terminal include the First Nations Elders Lounge and special facilities to accommodate Medevac operations.