New Calgary airport terminal delayed one year: CEO

Construction on Calgary's new international air terminal is behind schedule, but on budget says the airport CEO.

Garth Atkinson told Calgary city council the new international terminal at YYC will not open until autumn of 2016, one year behind schedule.

• Airport gives sneak peek of new international terminal

The new concourse for passengers heading to the United States and other international destinations was to be in operationby this fall.

Atkinson says construction on the exterior of thenew terminal will be largely complete by the end of the year, but the interior will require another six months to accommodate the needs of the airlines and some 70 retail tenants.

He says the airport wants to test all the systems fully to ensure the new terminal has a smooth opening.

"When we open we want it to be the finest terminal in Canada and we're convinced it's going to be," said Atkinson.

The $1.6-billion terminalproject is still within budget, according to Atkinson.