Region of Waterloo airport celebrates 75th anniversary

It’s a milestone moment: The Region of Waterloo International Airport is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

When it first opened in 1950, it was called the Waterloo Wellington Airport and only had two paved runways, one apron and one hangar. The region took full ownership of the airport back in 1996.

Over 75 years, the municipality said the airport has met numerous landmark moments, including opening its first passenger air terminal building in 1973, the Airport Operations Centre in 2011 and launching the Air Canada Landline Luxury motorcoach service in 2024.

The first airline to offer service at the airport was Trans Canada Airlines (now Air Canada) in 1951, followed by Sunwing in 2005, WestJet in 2007 and Flair Airlines in 2021.

In 2024, the airport set a new record for the number of passengers that came through its terminal, with 523,210.

“From its humble beginnings to becoming a modern gateway to the world, the Region of Waterloo International Airport has played a key role in connecting people, businesses, and cultures for three-quarters of a century,” said Karen Redman, Chair of the Region of Waterloo in a press release.

“We are honoured to celebrate this anniversary with the community that has supported us every step of the way.”

The landmark anniversary will come with an open house on Saturday June 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event is free to the public and will give a chance to show off their most recent expansion and air terminal building. Instead of admission, those looking to come by are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

For the future, the region said the airport currently has plans to “continue upgrades, green initiatives, and expand service to meet the evolving needs of our passengers and partners.”