Alberta's Minister of Economic Development and Trade Deron Bilous was in Red Deer this afternoon to officially announce the completion of the Red Deer Runway Extension Project.

The project, which began in May of 2016, includes a 7,500 foot runway expansion and new holding bay.

Bilous said the runway expansion will better connect Red Deer and the surrounding area to the rest of the country.

“This runway expansion means we can have flights between Red Deer and other airports. So the possibility of having a direct flight between Red Deer and Toronto or other larger cities across Canada is now possible.”

CEO of the Red Deer Airport Graham Ingham said it couldn't have gone any smoother.

“We’re excited the project was completed on time and on budget. We are looking forward to the next step and the airport’s growth.”

Bilous also said the expansion will be an economic driver for the region, especially when Red Deer hosts the 2019 Canada Winter Games which expects to attract about 20,000 visitors.