At its annual public meeting today, HIAA reflected on 2015 as a year of significant accomplishments, as well as reported its operating and financial results. A second weekly Korean Air Cargo 747 was also announced.
“In 2015, we welcomed a number of new routes that contributed to a record year for passenger numbers,” says Joyce Carter, HIAA President & CEO. “Our new one-way loop road system opened providing new opportunities for commercial development and enhancing safety and efficiency for airport access. We also laid the groundwork for a new strategy to market Halifax Stanfield as an international hub between Europe and North American to open new opportunities for air service development.”
HIAA generated $57.4 million in operating revenues ($56.7 million in 2014) and collected $34.3 million in airport improvement fees ($34.1 million in 2014), for total revenues of $91.7 million ($90.8 million in 2014). Total expenses for 2015 were $89.1 million ($83.0 million in 2014). That increase was largely driven by higher winter operating and amortization costs. Security, marketing, maintenance, and energy costs were also up in 2015.
Revenues exceeded expenses by $2.6 million ($7.8 million in 2014). As always, the surplus is retained and reinvested in airport development to improve our facilities and services.
Passenger numbers rose 1.1 per cent in 2015, as Halifax Stanfield welcomed a record 3,702,705 passengers (3,663,039 in 2014). “This milestone is even more impressive when you consider 1,400 flights were cancelled during our snowy winter,” says Carter. “Halifax Stanfield accounted for 40 per cent of all seat capacity in Atlantic Canada in 2015, and based on departing seats per capita, was number one in the country.”
In 2015, the overall value of air exports was $438 million, up by $75 million over 2014. The majority of that growth came in the live lobster and seafood category, up by $57 million over 2014. Lobster and seafood exports totaled $149 million in 2015.
Other 2015 Highlights
Infrastructure upgrades included a major change to the airport landscape as the new one-way loop road system was opened. In addition to improving traffic flow and safety, this roadway creates an inner core for commercial development on the property.
Construction also began to expand the departures level to create an additional 5,000 square feet for up to five new food and beverage and/or retail outlets.
The latest figures available (2014) show Halifax Stanfield International Airport is worth over $1.3 billion to the Nova Scotia economy on an annual basis and is responsible for a total of 13,295 full-time equivalent jobs, including 5,725 direct employment.
In 2015, Airports Council International recertified Halifax Stanfield as Airport Service Quality Assured – the international gold standard for passenger service excellence – making it one of only 17 airports in the world to reach this top level of passenger satisfaction.
The global Skytrax World Airport Awards passenger surveys rated Halifax Stanfield as the 3rd Best Airport in the World in its class (under five million passengers) and the 9th Best Airport Staff in North America.
HIAA also reported on its Community Outreach Program that provided $280,000 in financial and in-kind support to over 200 charities and community projects, including the final year of a three-year Signature Partnership with Parker Street Food & Furniture Bank. HIAA’s new Signature Partner is the Dartmouth Family Centre/Community Food Centre.
Korean Air Cargo Adds a Second Weekly 747
Korean Air Cargo will add a second weekly 747 cargo freighter beginning on May 11, 2016. The freighter is scheduled to arrive in Halifax on Wednesdays at 6:20 a.m. to pick up cargo, much of which is live lobster. The freighter then departs at 8 a.m. for Seoul, South Korea. Korean Air Cargo has operated a 747 or 777 freighter at Halifax Stanfield for nearly two years. Together, the two flights are expected to generate over $2,000,000 in export value to the province each week.