2010 – Celebration and growth at Halifax Stanfield International Airport

At its annual public meeting today, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) reflected on 2010 as a year of significant milestones for the Authority and , as well as reported the Authority’s operating and financial results.

“In 2010, we celebrated 10 years as an airport authority, 50 years as an airport, had one of our busiest years for passenger and cargo traffic, completed several capital improvement projects, and delivered a positive bottom line,” says Tom Ruth, HIAA President & CEO. “Our volunteer program also marked its 10-year anniversary, we attained Airport Service Quality Assured certification and we were ranked as one of the best airports in the world for customer service for the eighth straight year,” he says.

HIAA generated $47.3 million in operating revenues ($43.9 million in 2009) and collected $19.7 million in airport improvement fees ($18.2 million in 2009), for total revenues of $67 million ($62.1 million in 2009). Total expenses for 2010 were $65.4 million ($58.8 million in 2009).

Overall in 2010, revenues exceeded expenses by $1.6 million. The surplus revenue is retained and reinvested in Airport operations and development.

HIAA invested $22.7 million ($63.7 million in 2009) in its capital improvement program, including completion of a combined services complex to house HIAA’s emergency response services and airfield maintenance teams; upgrades to the terminal building; and Phase Six (a) of the airfield restoration program.

In 2010, overall passenger traffic increased by 2.7 per cent to 3,508,153 passengers, compared to 3,417,164 in 2009, making it one of the airport’s busiest in its 50-year history. The largest increase was in the transborder sector (non-stop to the United States) where traffic was up by 7.3 per cent to a record of over 350,000 passengers. Contributing to this growth was the introduction of US Airways’ three times a day service to Philadelphia.

On the cargo side, approximately 28,450 metric tonnes of cargo was processed through Halifax Stanfield International Airport, compared to 26,910 metric tonnes in 2009, up 5.7 per cent.

The latest figures available (2009) show Halifax Stanfield International Airport is worth over $1.22 billion to the Nova Scotia economy on an annual basis.

HIAA also reported on its Community Outreach Program that supported over 300 charities and community projects, including Habitat for Humanity, its signature partner.

To view HIAA’s 2010 annual report online visit www.contact.hiaa.ca.