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“It (the shuttle) is better than nothing, but it’s not world class,” he said.

Saretsky added WestJet has had to build longer connection times into its schedules to allow for walk distances. In Seattle, for example, WestJet builds a 35-minute connection time for passengers into its schedules. In Calgary, Saretsky said the airline now must allow for a 75-minute connection time.

“If some of these issues don’t get addressed, and the connectivity issues don’t get resolved, guests will figure out very quickly that it’s easier to connect in Vancouver or in Seattle than coming through Calgary,” he said. “I think this terminal risks actually forcing traffic to other airports.”

Saretsky added WestJet is waiting for incomingCEO Bob Sartor to take the reins at the airport authority in January, in the hope he will take a fresh look at the airline’s concerns. Sartor, the former head of Big Rock Brewery, is replacing retiring airport authority CEO Garth Atkinson.

“We were urging the airport to build a plan that would better address (our concerns),” Saretsky said. “Now we’ll wait for the new CEO and give him the same list and see if we can make more headway.”

On its Facebook page, the Calgary International Airport has fielded a number of reviews of the new terminal — some positive, some negative. Of the negative reviews, many specifically mention walk distances and difficulties getting around.

Photo by Lyle Aspinall / Postmedia Network

But Moseley said the airport authority is “hearing great things” about the connections process, and believes that passengers are moving smoothly through the facility.

“Familiarity with the new systems and processes will take some time, but we are providing information in the terminal, online and through our social media channels to reassure passengers,” Moseley said.

WestJet hired 225 new people to staff the new terminal, adding $15 million in salary costs to the company’s bottom line. Saretsky said the new hires were necessary not because the number of WestJet flights has increased, but because the size and layout of the new facility require staff to be in different physical locations.

astephenson@postmedia.com

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