Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (IATA: YXE, ICAO: CYXE) is an international airport located 3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) north-west[1] of downtown Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, though still within its city limits.

The airport has nine passenger bridges, three ground loading positions, 32 check-in points, and a customs/immigration arrivals area.

[citation needed] Air Canada in 1950 began operating the Canadair North Star at the airport, followed by the Vickers Viscount in 1955.

In 1993 the name of the airport was changed to recognize Canada's 13th Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.

In 1995 under the Canada-US Open Skies agreement Northwest Airlines started service to Minneapolis – Saint Paul.

In 2000, Nav Canada constructed a new control tower and the airport authority began renovations and expansions to the terminal building.

In March 2008 work started on the rehabilitation of runway 09/27, taxiway Foxtrot and Alpha at a cost of $16 million.

For a short period of time between 2006 and April 2007 Northwestern Air also operated flights to Fort McMurray.

[23] In February 2016, Skyxe issued request for proposals for Air Terminal Building Groundside Departures Hall Expansion, West Aero Park Development, and Saskatoon International Airport rebranding.

Skyxe issued additional request for proposals for Shuttle Parking Lot Development and Apron III and V Pavement Rehabilitation.

There are a full restaurant, a Tim Hortons and a Starbucks in the post-security area, and a Relay store near the entrances.

In February 2015, St. John's Ambulance introduced therapy dogs to the airport, providing a service to put nervous passengers at ease.

[citation needed] Saskatoon Transit (Route 11) provides city bus service between the airport and the downtown core.

Twenty-three former Air Canada Jazz and Canadian Regional Airlines Fokker F28 aircraft have been stored at the airport since they were retired from the fleet in 2003.

On April 1, 2011, a Fugro Aviation Canada Limited CASA C-212, C-FDKM, carrying three crew, crashed while attempting a landing at Saskatoon Airport.

After declaring an emergency with an engine failure, the aircraft crashed on a Saskatoon street (Wanuskewin Drive) and hit a concrete sound barrier.