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APPROACHING BUSINESS Succeeding by Enabling Success. “ THE COMBINATION OF THE INCREASED NUMBER OF DIRECT FLIGHTS AND THE IMMEDIATE AND REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF THE NEW US PRECLEARANCE FACILITY ALONG WITH THE STRONGER CANADIAN w DOLLAR ENCOURAGED MORE TRAVELLERS TO CHOOSE OUR AIRPORT.” Passenger growth and new routes; one complements the other. Together they drive an airport’s success. In 2007, we enjoyed plenty of both, thanks in part to our approach of building partnerships within the community and throughout the aviation industry. A record 3,469,062 passengers passed through our gates in 2007, breaking our previous record set in 2006. Most of this growth came in our US and international markets, with a 15.5 per cent increase in both categories. “Without doubt, the combination of the increased number of direct flights and the immediate and remarkable success of the new US Preclearance facility along with the stronger Canadian dollar encouraged more travellers to choose our airport,” says Jerry Staples, HIAA’s Vice President, Marketing & Business Development. The convenience and increasing number of new routes and direct flights, whether domestic, transborder or international, benefits both business and leisure travellers.“And that’s a direct result of the work we do to cultivate rapport with the carriers at all levels and, in particular, the airline business analysts who make recommendations on new routes,” adds Jerry.“We’re constantly in the carriers’ offices, building relationships and making the case for Halifax Stanfield International Airport.” It’s an approach that’s paying off. In 2007, we launched a number of new routes to major destinations solidifying our position as Atlantic Canada’s gateway airport. Among our major achievements on the US side, for example, was United Airlines’ decision to initiate year-round, non-stop daily service to Chicago. And as a direct result of our new US Preclearance facility, both Air Canada Jazz and American Eagle began daily, non-stop service into New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Our international routes showed similar strength. Icelandair returned to Halifax after a six-year absence with a seasonal, three-times-weekly service to Reykjavik. This alternative route to Europe, scheduled to go year-round in 2008, opens up Nordic destinations to Atlantic Canada – and is an added bonus for both business and leisure travellers. Zoom Airlines added weekly seasonal service to Paris and Belfast in 2007, while Air Transat offered twice-weekly seasonal flights to London (Gatwick). And in June 2008, we’ll welcome a new international carrier when Corsairfly launches a weekly seasonal service between Paris (Orly) and Halifax. HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 6
Eighty per cent of our passenger travel is domestic, so expanding and diversifying our Canadian routes remains paramount. In June 2007, Porter Airlines began offering seasonal summer flights between Halifax and Toronto City Centre Airport, via Ottawa and Montreal. The route proved so popular that Porter extended the Ottawa-Toronto service to weekends year-round. As well, Air Canada launched a daily, non-stop service between Gander and Halifax and, along with WestJet, added seasonal service to Edmonton. We also introduced two new services in 2007 designed to make transborder and international travel easier for both passengers and carriers. Working in partnership with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), HSIA was one of the first airports to introduce NEXUS technology to expedite border clearance between Canada and the US. This trusted traveller program allows low-risk, pre-approved individuals to bypass the customs line-up by using self-serve kiosks instead, a real convenience – especially for those who fly frequently. Our carriers benefited from CBSA’s move last year to 24/7 customs coverage. In the past, the cost of customs services used after standard working hours was borne by the airlines. The growth of air charter service in recent years, however, has meant an increase in early morning and late evening flights requiring customs clearance. Staying competitive requires paying constant attention to costs, and we’re pleased that our representations to government departments and our partners resulted in the decision by CBSA to offer 24/7 coverage. Not only can air carriers fly into Halifax at any time of the day or night and know their passengers can clear customs, the arrangement helps our carriers remain cost-competitive. Being the largest airport and the region’s gateway, we know our continued success depends on building the air network throughout Atlantic Canada. That’s why every two years we host the Air Access Forum. Our 2007 conference, Altitudes East, brought airports from across the region, other parts of Canada and the US together with airlines from around the world. Under one roof, the 150 attendees networked, met one on one, built business, and created opportunities for each other – all with the aim of growing air service. After all, as Jerry says, “When the other airports in the region do well, we do well, too.” While most people think of airports from a passenger perspective, the air cargo business is a major revenue-generator, and one we want to grow aggressively. A feasibility study completed in 2007 demonstrated how HIAA could increase its cargo numbers by attracting more business – mainly seafood – that’s now trucked from the Maritimes to the US and then airlifted to international markets. Growing this business means building the right facility for our cargo clients, and we’re close to finalizing plans with a developer for the construction of a multi-use cargo facility. Once completed, this modern building will feature new apron space for aircraft and loading docks plus warehousing and equipment, including refrigeration space, so important for seafood.“Airlines like to fly full in both directions,” explains Jerry.“This new facility not only means exporters can fly, rather than truck, their product, we can also help the region’s importers grow their businesses.” We enjoyed positive cargo growth in 2007. Cargo activity increased to almost 29,800 metric tonnes, up 7.4 per cent over 2006. While business for most cargo carriers was up, Air Canada’s dedicated MD-11 service to Vitoria, Spain, accounted for the most significant increase, adding some 1,500 metric tonnes. Woven through all we do is a belief in the value of partnerships. Whether within our industry or out in the community, with transportation colleagues in the Halifax Gateway Council or stakeholders like the Greater Halifax Partnership; Halifax Chamber of Commerce; Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage; Destination Halifax; Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal; Nova Scotia Business Inc.; and Nova Scotia Economic Development, we know that rapport, relationships and credibility are fundamental to our success – and the success of those who work with us, for us, and beside us. Quite simply, it’s how we approach business at HIAA. w HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY 2007 ANNUAL REPORT 7
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Page 25 and 26: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peter McDonough,

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