EDMONTON International Airport (EIA) has bucked a trend of recent bad economic news with the announcement of the development of an expanded mega mall and an air cargo hub together valued at C$225 million (US$182 million) that is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

The first development involves real estate company Ivanhoe Cambridge expanding the size of the Outlet Collection at EIA, scheduled to begin construction in the next six months and open in 2017.

The complex, which is the region's first and only pure outlet centre, has grown since it was first announced in December 2013 by 65,000 square feet to 415,000 square feet, and now plans to offer more than 100 outlet brands.

Ivanhoe Cambridge vice-president Paul Gleeson said the mall will anchor the airport's highway commercial development project, a planned shopping, office, entertainment and hotel development adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway at Airport Road, the Edmonton Journal reported.

A new airport shuttle will be provided when the mall opens, allowing travellers to move between the terminal and the shopping centre during layovers. There will also be a parcel storage service for travellers to pick up their purchases on the return leg of their trip.

At the same time, it was announced that Edmonton-based trucking company Rosenau Transport plans to open a new 210,000-square-foot distribution centre and warehouse at the airport in November.

The facility, to be custom-built by Panattoni Development Company, will be a hub between the company's ground cargo and its new venture of air freight.

It gives western Canadian shippers the ability to send cargo to Edmonton that can be put on a plane to any destination within 24 hours.