The Saint John, N.B., airport authority has begun to open up hundreds of acres of land for commercial real estate development.

The authority is listing 37 acres of airport land for commercial lease and says 600 acres are ready for development.

“We are in conversation with a number of developers who would be [interested] in building some of the facilities we are talking about,” Sandy Ross, the airport’s CEO, told CTV.

Ross told CBC that the authority plans to lease airport property to a third party that could oversee development. He indicated the authority is attempting to generate more revenue streams after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored “a certain fragility” in reliance on airline passenger traffic.

Up to 20 acres are available for lease in the airport amenities zone in which parcels are being marketed for potential hotel, food and beverage, and professional service uses. The local services zone has up to 17 acres available for envisioned fuel-service station, quick-service restaurant and retail locations.

Christine Stanley, a Colliers sales and leasing specialist, is co-ordinating the listing for the airport authority. According to the listing’s webpage, development possibilities include an air-services business park, light-industrial ventures and a solar farm.

Other potential developments include cargo operations, aircraft maintenance buildings and training facilities.

Image: Colliers/Saint John Airport Authority