Airport recognized on the global stage for exceptional route development marketing
September 25, 2025
Representatives from Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) were proud to take the stage this week in Hong Kong at Routes World 2025 to accept the Routes World Award for an airport serving under five million passengers. This award, which recognizes an airport’s outstanding efforts and partnerships in air service development and marketing, is a testament to HIAA’s significant achievements over the past year.
“We are honoured to be recognized by Routes on the global stage for the strength of our air service development strategy, innovative marketing, and strong community partnerships,” said Marie Manning, Vice President, Business Development & Chief Commercial Officer, HIAA. “This award showcases the bold work of our team, the confidence of our airline partners, and the growing connectivity Halifax Stanfield delivers for our region. We thank Routes for shining a spotlight on our efforts and for uniting the industry to celebrate how we collectively connect the world by air.”
The Routes World Award is especially significant as airlines from around the world nominate and vote for the winning airports, highlighting the strong partnerships HIAA has cultivated with its airline partners. These collaborations have been crucial in delivering air service that accelerates the growth of our communities by connecting people and goods to the world.
HIAA’s strategic initiatives in air service development focus on broadening domestic, U.S., and international connectivity. By positioning Halifax Stanfield as Atlantic Canada’s hub airport and a key Canadian gateway, HIAA aims to widen the airport’s reach, which is essential for continuous economic growth and development.
Over the past year, Halifax Stanfield achieved record capacity volumes on transborder (U.S.) and international services. Transborder capacity increased 14 per cent through increased frequencies, larger aircraft, and the launch of non-stop flights to Chicago by United Airlines and American Airlines. European capacity grew by 25 per cent with the launch of four new destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris by WestJet and Zurich with Edelweiss. European connectivity achieved record levels in 2025 for both seat capacity and the number of non-stop destinations served, with 119 per cent capacity growth compared to 2019 and a total of eleven destinations.
Halifax Stanfield’s geographic location and proximity to Europe enable airlines to efficiently use both narrow and wide-body aircraft, contributing to the airport’s role as the gateway to Atlantic Canada.
“At HIAA, capacity development is strongly focused on aligning community air service needs and market opportunities with airline strategies,” said Manning. “The addition of our new International Connections Facility has further strengthened this position by enhancing passenger connections and elevating the travel experience. We proudly stand at the forefront of air service development—combining data-driven insights, collaborative partnerships, and bold strategy to deliver sustainable growth.”
From a marketing standpoint, HIAA teams up with airline marketers to engineer high-impact campaigns that dominate our catchment area and increase route awareness and interest within targeted destination markets. The airport also forges strong partnerships with destination marketing organizations and airports at both ends of the route, creating unstoppable momentum. In the past year alone, HIAA successfully executed and supported 28 marketing campaigns for eight airlines.
“We welcome this global industry recognition, as it underscores our commitment to supporting our partners and enhancing air service connectivity,” said Manning. “I want to extend my congratulations and appreciation to our entire team, particularly Chris de Man and Tiffany Chase, who lead air service development and marketing, for their contributions in making Halifax Stanfield Atlantic Canada’s gateway to the world and a model for excellence in our industry.”
This award from Routes World 2025 underscores HIAA’s commitment to excellence in air service development and marketing, highlighting its success in fostering economic growth and connecting its communities to destinations worldwide.
To learn more about Halifax Stanfield and its connections to the world, visit halifaxstanfield.ca.