Fredericton politicians and business leaders are lining up behind a new report that is calling for a $22-million expansion of the Fredericton airport to meet growing air traffic.

On Tuesday, the Fredericton Airport Authority released a consultant's report that it commissioned that said the expansion will be needed to meet increased passenger traffic over the next two decades.

The consultant's report suggests annual traffic at the airport could more than double from the current 275,000 passengers within 20 years.

One of its top recommendations was a 6,800-square-metre expansion of the terminal, which would cost roughly $22 million.

Anthony Knight, chief executive officer of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said he believes the expansion must be launched.

He also said the money for that project should come out of Ottawa's coffers.

"The airport authority has made application to the Atlantic Gateway Initiative and it's our understanding that the initiative would be the most likely source of funding support for the planned expansion," he said

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside is also endorsing the airport expansion plans.

He said the airport development has to keep up with the city's continuing growth.

"The airport is just like the community, as the community grows so should the airport to service the flights that are coming and going here," he said.

The growth at Fredericton airport was recognized in July when it was announced that air traffic control service will begin in mid-December.

According to statistics kept by the Department of Transportation, Fredericton airport was the second busiest in the province in 2007. In that year, it had 267,511 people passing through it, compared to 518,930 in Moncton and 243,526 in Saint John.

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