Vancouver International Airport Authority will announce its 2010 Winter Olympics plan tomorrow.
YVR will show-off the new plows and de-icing equipment it acquired to prevent a repeat of the December 2008 snow closures.
It is also planning to reveal operations details, which could include scheduled closures. Security precautions shut down airport runways during opening and closing ceremonies in Salt Lake City and Torino.
Airspace over a large area of Washington state and B.C. will be restricted Jan. 29-March 4 because of the Games. Flights over venues are banned, except for military, police, emergency, VIP and approved media travel. Canada and U.S. air force jets could shoot-down unauthorized flights that disobey and resist interception.
The disruption has angered at least one airline based in YVR's south terminal. Pacific Coastal Airlines' vice-president Spencer Smith told customers in a Nov. 6 memo the company is "struggling with the lack of infrastructure and support being provided by the regulatory bodies that are imposing these security requirements."
PCA is reducing service to the Central Coast and southeast B.C. because of airspace restrictions and security screening.
"It is hard to determine the impact this will have on the need for our service," said Smith's memo. "A significant number of our regular travelers are indicating to us that they will be limiting (or eliminating) their travel during the Olympic period."
