Airport upgrades increase safety and access in Klondike

Dawson City Airport New Maintenance Facility and Paved Runway

Community members and airport staff joined Premier Sandy Silver and Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn today to celebrate the completion of major upgrades to the Dawson City Airport.

The project included construction of a new maintenance facility and paving the runway. These changes help improve safety and efficiency at the airport. The Dawson City Airport is Yukon's second busiest airport and is a key element to the growing economy of the Klondike region.

Airport staff can now work year-round in a heated facility, which will also protect maintenance equipment from extreme weather conditions. The newly paved runway surface is less susceptible to foreign object debris which can damage and delay aircrafts.

This is a project that I have been advocating for since being elected as MLA for Klondike and I am very proud to see it completed by our government. This is part of our commitment to build thriving Yukon communities and to support local needs and local solutions. Thank you to everyone involved in completing this important project, one that will grow Yukon’s economy.

Premier Sandy Silver

These investments improve aviation safety and support economic growth in the Klondike. A more reliable, modern airport makes the Klondike more accessible to residents, tourists and industry. Our government is improving infrastructure across the territory and I thank the project team that worked so diligently to complete this project. I said it would get paved, and here we are!

Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn

Quick facts 
  • All the other certified airports in Yukon, which include Old Crow Airport, Watson Lake Airport and Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, have maintenance facilities.

  • The construction contract for the maintenance facility was done by TSL Contractors Ltd., for $7.7 million. Paving work was done by Skookum Asphalt for $9.9 million.

  • The Dawson City Airport runway was built in the early 1930s.

Media contact 

Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
[email protected]

Keely Bass
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-667-8522
[email protected]

News release #: 
19-201