Halifax International Airport

Halifax International Airport Authority Reports on 2011 – A Record Year

Begins Planning for Future Commercial Development of Airport Property

At its annual public meeting today, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) reflected on 2011 as a year of significant accomplishments, as well as reported its operating and financial results.

In 2011, we had our busiest year for passenger traffic, increased our cargo activity, completed several capital improvement projects, and delivered a positive bottom line,” says Tom Ruth, HIAA President & CEO. “We continued to be recognized for our customer service achievements and began planning for the future commercial development of our airport property.”  

HIAA generated $51.1 million in operating revenues ($47.3 million in 2010) and collected $26.8 million in airport improvement fees ($19.7 million in 2010), for total revenues of $77.9 million ($67 million in 2010). Total expenses for 2011 were $74.4 million ($65.4 million in 2010).  

Overall in 2011, revenues exceeded expenses by $3.4 million. The surplus revenue is retained and reinvested in Airport operations and development.  

HIAA invested $21.8 million ($22.7 million in 2010) in its capital improvement program, including completion of the airfield restoration program, upgrades to Barnes Drive, the first phase of site preparation to extend the main runway from 8,800 to 10,500 feet, and preliminary work on its commercial development strategy. This plan will help shape the development of the Airport property from the terminal building to Highway 102 – transforming Airport real estate into a powerful catalyst for future economic growth. 

In 2011, overall passenger traffic increased by 2.5 per cent to 3,594,164 passengers, up from 3,508,153 in 2010. This marks the Airport’s busiest year and accounts for over half of all the air passengers in Atlantic Canada. Compared to 2010, all sectors recorded year-over-year growth in 2011 with transborder traffic (non-stop to the United States) up 10.8 per cent, international traffic up 9.1 per cent, and Canadian domestic traffic holding strong, with a 0.7 per cent increase.  

On the cargo side, 29,263 metric tonnes of cargo was processed through Halifax Stanfield in 2011, compared to 28,450 metric tonnes in 2010, up 2.8 per cent.  

The latest figures available (2010) show Halifax Stanfield International Airport is worth over $1.25 billion to the Nova Scotia economy on an annual basis.  

In 2011, Airports Council International inducted Halifax Stanfield International Airport into its new Director General’s Roll of Excellence – one of only 14 airports so honoured. Halifax Stanfield was re-certified as ASQ Assured – the industry’s global seal of approval for superior service, and earned two Airport Service Quality Awards – third best airport in the world for overall customer satisfaction (for airports under five million passengers) and third best airport in North America (regardless of size). 

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