Thompson residents will soon see the doors open at the new terminal at Thompson Regional Airport. The much-anticipated facility is expected to open to the public in late August 2026, offering a massive upgrade for travellers across northern Manitoba.
The new terminal replaces a building that’s more than 50 years old and has been sinking into the ground due to unstable permafrost. At 40,000 square feet, it’s more than three times larger than the existing 14,000-square-foot space, making it a more comfortable and functional hub for the roughly 80,000 passengers who pass through each year.
Final touches are still needed, including some furniture and allowing the airlines to move in operations, but the terminal is expected to open to the public in late August. “We’re really excited about what the future is going to look like,” said James Lindsey, president and CEO of the Thompson Regional Airport Authority. The project started nearly two decades ago and carries a total cost of about $135 million, including a $52-million loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
The airport serves 37 northern communities, including 15 remote Indigenous communities that are only accessible by air and ice roads. For these places, the new terminal means more than just new walls. It includes a First Nations Elders Lounge and better spaces for Medevac operations. There will also be stronger security screening, which leaders hope will help stop drugs and alcohol from being brought into First Nations where alcohol is banned.
For more details on the project, residents can watch a related report on the CBC News website. The new terminal sits on a fresh site southwest of the old one and marks a big step forward for reliable air travel in the north.
