LETTER: South Surrey doesn’t need another airport

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Editor:

I read with interest the comments by Mr. Wheatley advocating an airport for the Campbell Heights area.

I think we residents of Surrey need to consider this proposal very carefully. First, is it really needed and will it be economically viable? If the project doesn’t prove to be financially viable, then who will cover the costs? Will we the taxpayers of Surrey and other levels of government need to pay and pay the costs?

Let’s keep in mind just a few miles east in Langley Township there already is an airport, and to the north is a larger airport just across the river in Pitt Meadows. Then immediately to the west is the airport in South Delta adjacent to the Mud Bay Flats.

Now, if you are thinking this would be used by larger aircraft, don’t forget the underutilized excellent airport located in the south portion of Abbotsford and lastly the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond about 45 minutes driving time to the west.

Next, ask yourself do you really want to live near an airport or under the paths of landings and takeoff paths of all the planes? The noise of planes regularly landing and taking off is here already and can be quite unpleasant.

Ever attend a garden party where you can’t chat with your guests because of the continuous line of new or training pilots landing and taking off? You can encounter that right now in areas of South Surrey with student pilots continuously landing and taking off.

Now consider the very large amount of land that must be utilized for one or more runways, green belts all around the runways, land for hangars and repair shops, plane and car storage.

Lastly, consider the times you have watched on the TV or heard of planes having bad landings and/or takeoffs.

Do you really want to live in that area, especially when we already have five accessible airports surrounding us for all different sizes of aeroplanes? On the other hand, would you prefer that area be retained as a park, playground, school yard or a new residential neighbourhood? I know my choice.

Tim Roark