As part of its transformation into a big-city airport, Kelowna airport now has multiple 'fast flow exit doors'.
'Fast flow exit doors' are actually a glass box system of automatic double doors that open when you approach so you can walk into a short hallway.
The doors behind you close so you can't 'backflow' into a secure area and then the next set of doors automatically opens so you can santer into the main terminal.
In Kelowna's case, the 'fast flow exit doors' are in the existing departure lounge and lead to the rotunda between the security screening area and the check-in counters.
"The fast flow exit doors are great if you just have carry-on luggage because you can get off the plane, come into the departure lounge and straight out the fast flow exit doors," explained Kelowna International Airport CEO Sam Samaddar.
"You can also use the fast flow exit doors if you're going to arrivals and baggage claim instead of walking down the corridor (after you get off the plane)."
For years, Kelowna airport has had a single fast flow exit door that wasn't well promoted or used.
But with the installation of two side-by-side fast flow exit door systems, Kelowna airport is getting ready for how passengers will move when the $112-million expansion starts to open early next year.
The new section of the twice-as-big departure lounge will house departure gates 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Those departure gates will also be arrival points for passengers getting off planes and onto jetways that lead directly into the departure lounge.
Passengers will be directed to the fast flow exit doors and into the terminal to either leave right away if they only have carry-on luggage or go to the baggage carousels if they checked suitcases.
"All the major airports have passengers arriving in departure areas," pointed out Samaddar.
"And the fast flow exit doors are there to add convenience and utilize technology rather than a security guard to show you were to exit."
Passengers arriving at some of the other gates will also have the option of coming into the departure lounge and heading to the fast flow exit doors.
Although it won't be allowed, or make much sense, for those coming in at gates 1, 2, 3 and 4 because they are closer to the arrivals area and the baggage claim, and they might as well continue to use the corridor link.
The $112-million expansion and improvements underway are the biggest and most expensive ever at the airport.
In addition to the twice-as-big departure lounge opening early next -- with a first-class lounge upstairs -- there will be twice-as-fast security screening where you don't have to take out your liquids and gels or laptop.
In the next few years, the expansion continues with a new domestic arrivals area so the old one can be turned into international arrivals and a 245-room Sutton Place hotel and parkade right next to the main terminal building.
Kelowna airport is the ninth busiest in Canada serving 2.3 million passengers a year who come and go on non-stop flights to and from 21 destinations -- Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Comox, Seattle, Prince George, Cranbrook, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Regina, Toronto, Montreal, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Mazatlan.
