Deer Lake Regional Airport

For the airport in Ontario see Deer Lake Airport (Ontario)

Deer Lake Regional Airport is located in Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador,Canada. It is currently run by the Deer Lake Regional Airport Authority, and its IATA airport code is YDF.

History

The Deer Lake Airport dates back to 1953 when, as a joint venture between the Town of Deer Lake and the Bowater Corporation, a site survey was completed by the Department of Transport just east of the town in an area known as Junction Brook, located between the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) and the Humber River.

Preliminary construction began in 1954 and by the fall of 1955, a 4,000-foot gravel strip became operational. The gravel strip was lengthened to 5,000 feet in 1959, paved in 1963 and extended to 6,000 feet in 1973. The runway was resurfaced in 1978. Eastern Provincial Airways commenced scheduled service in 1956 using Lockheed 10A aircraft and in July 1969, jet service was inaugurated using Boeing 737 aircraft.

The original terminal building was constructed in 1963 and was enlarged in 1975, 1980 and 1986. In September 1989, a decision was made to construct a new terminal building to provide the capacity for future traffic levels and to improve service levels for the traveling public. The new terminal building was officially opened July 19, 1991.