October News Update
2017 Airports Canada Conference & Exhibition a Success
 
Canadian and international air transportation industry's most influential leaders and chief executives gathered together at the 2017 Airports Canada Conference and Exhibition from October 24th to the 26th to discuss challenges and solutions for managing growth in air passenger traffic.
 
The theme was Harmony in Motion, which represents the interconnectivity of Canada's airports and the efforts to facilitate travel for passengers, so that it is as smooth and seamless as possible. The conference featured a robust agenda with a multitude of thought provoking sessions.
 
The sessions included Managing Growth in Canada's Global Cities, The Canada-U.S. Border: Making it Work, Cyber Security, Aviation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Regional Air Transport: What could the future hold?  
 
President and CEO Jan De Silva of the Toronto Region Board of Trade
Keynote spe ake rs included Director General Angela Gittens of Airports Council International and President and CEO Jan De Silva of the Toronto Region Board of Trade.
 
The former assistant director of intelligence at CSIS, Ray Boisvert, presented on recent cases of cyber threats, their frequency, level of impact, global costs, and what to do to protect critical infrastructure. Zunum Aero's Chief Technology of Power Waleed Said gave an update on his company's plans to introduce a new era of regional travel, starting in 2020.
 
More than a 180 people attended the conference, up from 150 in 2015.

Gerry Bruno Scholarship Awarded to UBC Student
 
The Gerry Bruno Scholarship was awarded to David Cojocar, a fourth-year student from the University of British Columbia (UBC) on October 25th at the 2017 Airports Canada Conference and Exhibition in Toronto.

This is the first time this scholarship has been awarded. The Gerry Bruno scholarship is meant to foster a career in aviation. Cojocar spent the previous summer working at Pacific Coastal Airlines, where he learned a great deal about precision, safety and complexity of an air carrier's operations. 
From left to right, Janice Bruno, Gerry Bruno, David Cojocar and Daniel-Robert Gooch.
 
Cococar has been involved in several aviation-related initiatives and participated in the UBC Aviation Club and the Waypoint Aviation
Connections. He is also a committee member of the Aviation Leadership Foundation and the British Columbia Aviation Council.
 
 
A committee of airport authority chairs chose a winner based on a set of criteria, which included a statement of career interests and goals, internship or employment in the aviation industry, and demonstration of academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
 
The $5,000 scholarship, which was established by the CAC and InterVISTAS, recognizes and appreciates the leadership and innovation of Gerry Bruno, the founding chief executive officer of InterVISTAS and a respected leader in commercial airport management. Bruno has had a long career in government, airport marketing, strategic planning, aviation policy and aviation consulting.

Toronto Pearson's Residents' Reference Panel Releases Recommendations to Mitigate Aircraft Noise
 
The final report of Toronto Pearson International Airport's Residents' Reference Panel (RRP) on Airport Growth and Noise Fairness contains recommendations that the airport can use to ensure it grows in a responsible and sustainable way.


The RRP, comprised of 36-residents from communities across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) used discussions at public workshops, an extensive noise-fairness survey of GTA residents, information sessions with industry experts as well as their own experiences to form their final recommendations. They include:
  • Incentives for airlines to retrofit or use quieter aircraft;
  • Adopting more night flight restrictions, including a new formula for managing night flights;
  • Exploring other options to mitigate noise, such as a home insulation program for affected households; and
  • Improving coordination between the airport, Nav Canada, Transport Canada and the airlines.
The airport authority will review the details of the report and determine how best to reflect the proposed principles, values and recommendations in a number of  projects.

With global demand for air service driving growth at airports around the world, including Toronto Pearson, the GTAA has committed to releasing a new 5-year noise management action plan to ensure that growth occurs in a sustainable and responsible way.

Toronto Pearson's Residents' Reference Panel (RRP) on Airport Growth and Noise Fairness
 

President and CEO of the Vancouver International Airport Named Director of the Year

Airport Revenue News (ARN) has chosen Craig Richmond, president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Airport Authority as its 2017 Director of the Year in the large airports category. 

"I am very humbled to receive this recognition from ARN and my industry peers," said Richmond. "This award is a testament to the commitment and hard work of the airport community, which I have the honor to represent and work with every day. Our goal is to constantly improve the airport experience for our customers and partners, and we do this through our innovative business model, our focus on customer care and our mission to connect British Columbia to the world. I am proud to lead this team and thrilled that we have been recognized for our successful airport."

Richmond's career with the Vancouver Airport Authority began in 1995. He has served the authority in a variety of roles, such as manager of airside operations and vice president of operations. In 2006 he transitioned into the role of chief executive officer of the airport' s subsidiary Vantage Airport Group where he  oversaw six airports in three different countries. 

In 2013 he returned to the Vancouver International Airport as president and chief executive officer. R ichmond is credited with significantly expanding air service at the airport. More than 22.3 million passengers used the airport in 2016, a 9.7 percent increase over 2015.   
 
Calgary Airport Celebrates Anniversary of its New International Terminal

Since the YYC Calgary International Airport opened its new international terminal to the world on October 31st, 2016, it has welcomed an estimated 4.8 million international and U.S. passengers.
 
"As we celebrate this milestone, we are thrilled that YYC continues to be a catalyst for our partners to grow their business from Calgary," said Bob Sartor, president and chief executive officer of the Calgary Airport Authority. "Our vision for providing a positive passenger experience while working to reduce our environmental footprint in a LEED Gold certified facility, in addition to growing our airline network, has made this investment in
YYC Check-In Area
to YYC an important part of our first-anniversary success."
 
The international terminal, the largest single infrastructure project in the airport's history, added 24 aircraft gates in addition to innovations and technologies designed to improve and streamline the overall passenger experience.  
 
One of those innovations, the YYC LINK passenger shuttles, are a first of their kind in Canada. The electric-powered, Canadian-built customized indoor vehicles assist nearly 3,500 people through the connections corridor each day.  
 
With a total of 15.7 million passengers last year, the airport generates more than $8 billion in economic activity annually and has created 48,000 jobs. 

Metro News Article
Canada's airports are not just gateways to the world, connecting communities at home and abroad -- they are also significant job generators. For more information, follow this link:
hub.cacairports.ca


The Halifax Stanfield International Airport's new economic impact study indicates that it provided $2.8 billion to the province's economy in 2016 -- a 4.4 per cent increase over 2015.
  
The airport had a record number of 3.9 million passengers, and 33,330 metric tonnes of air cargo processed at the airport in 2016. The total impact from air cargo exporters on the provincial economy is approaching $490 million.  
   
Halifax Stanfield International Airport 
"A successful airport is the catalyst for economic growth, the heart of a community, and the lifeblood of prosperity.The airport creates jobs; moves people, goods and ideas; and is one of the most critical pieces of transportation infrastructure in Atlantic Canada," said Joyce Carter, president and chief executive officer of the Halifax International Airport Authority. "Together, the airport authority and all of our airport partners have a tremendous positive impact on Halifax and the entire province."
 
The airport generated 5,665 full-time equivalent jobs in 2016. Major employers include IMP Group, Air Canada and Jazz Aviation who together had 2,079 full-time equivalent staff or almost 40 per cent of the airport's workforce.
 
For every dollar the airport generates, the broader economy of Nova Scotia receives $2.54 in economic output. The economic impact study was produced by The Chris Lowe Group. 
 
Ottawa International Airport Authority's James Armstrong Named Security  Director of the Year

Canadian Security Magazine has chosen James Armstrong, vice president, security, emergency management and customer transportation from the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport as Security Director of the Year.

"In his relatively short time with the airport authority, Armstrong has brought his vast military experience to the airport's security program and made a marked difference in physical security through the introduction of new deterrence
activities, increased intelligence levels and improved inter-agency coordination and cooperation," said President and CEO Mark Laroche of the Ottawa International Airport Authority. "Many elements that were introduced under Armstrong's leadership are now becoming the standard in a irport security. The distinction of being chosen among peers as the Security Director of the Year is well deserved."

Candidates  are nominated b y peers, colleagues and coworkers based on the qualities that make them  successful in their respective fields, such as leadership, project management, problem solving
and contributing to industry through volunteerism/mentoring within the organization and community.  
 
The awards program, whose candidates are senior security professionals across such disciplines as health care, education, retail and transportation, has been running for more than 10 years, and is judged by a panel comprised of the magazine's  advisory board.   

Canadian Security Article
ACI Releases Policy Brief on Airport Networks and the Sustainability of Small Airports

Airports Council International (ACI) World Policy Brief, which was released in October, indicates that the sustainable operation and development of the world's smaller airports remains a challenge.    
 
While the airport industry as a whole is profitable, financial statements show that as many as 66 per cent of the world's airports, most of which are
Angela Gittens
small, operate at a net loss. 
 
"When a network approach is pursued, cross-subsidies from profitable larger airports are often key to the sustainability of smaller airports, which in turn provide essential benefits in terms of safety, social and economic development," said Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World.
 
Almost all of small airports in the world are operated by airport networks, which generates efficiencies in operating and capital costs. 
 
The policy brief provides an overview of the state of airport networks worldwide, based on a robust data set and inventory of the world's networks. It provides practical policy recommendations to ensure that airport operations and developments are sustainable and beneficial to airlines, passengers, communities and national economies.  

Policy Brief: Airport Networks and the Sustainability of Small Airports

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