The federal government says modernization of Inuvik’s Mike Zukbo Airport is expected to begin this fall with an injection of up to $49.5 million.
Announcing the investment in Inuvik on Monday, federal officials said the funds will be used to upgrade the existing runway and access road at the airport to improve safety, reliability and operational capacity.
“Inuvik Airport plays a vital role in supporting communities across the western Arctic and contributes to Canada’s broader transportation and northern priorities,” federal transport minister Steven MacKinnon stated in a news release.
“This investment will strengthen the airport’s capacity to serve the region, support operational readiness, and advance Canada’s defence, security and sovereignty objectives in the North.”
Upgrades to the airport – which also serves as a Forward Operating Location for the Royal Canadian Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defence Command – will create a consistent paved runway surface and replace the access road with asphalt to support heavier traffic and greater cargo volumes, the release states.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“Reliable airport infrastructure is essential to keeping northern communities connected and supporting economic growth across the Northwest Territories,” stated Vince McKay, NWT’s infrastructure and community affairs minister.
“This investment in the Inuvik Airport runway and access road will enhance safety, strengthen supply chains, and improve the movement of people and goods, while reinforcing Inuvik’s role as a key transportation and logistics hub in the North.”
The Canadian government said Monday’s funding commitment is the first to be announced from its $1 billion Arctic Infrastructure Fund introduced in the 2025 federal budget.
The release states the newly announced funding will be in addition to $230 million the federal government has previously committed to extend and modernize Inuvik Airport’s runway.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Improvements to the airport have been long awaited with delays attributed to shifting ground conditions related to permafrost and increasing costs.
Last year, the NWT Supreme Court paused procurement of a contractor to build a new airport terminal in Inuvik while the Gwich’in Tribal Council seeks a judicial review.
In early 2025, the federal government designated both Yellowknife and Inuvik as northern operational support hubs as part of a defence plan to assert Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic and increase military presence in the region.
The Department of National Defence has since outlined planned expansions at the Inuvik and Yellowknife airports.
