From Huddle Today – link to source story
Mar 8, 2021 by Ben Burnett
Saint John Airport president and CEO Derrick Stanford. Image: Submitted
SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Airport will say goodbye to its president and CEO, Derrick Stanford, this week.
Stanford was appointed to the position in 2016 and oversaw several years of passenger growth before the Covid-19 pandemic devastated the industry last year.
Greg Hierlihy will take over for Stanford in an interim role after he announced his resignation in February.
Stanford said the greatest accomplishment during his tenure was YSJ’s Airport Modernization Project.
“Saint John now has the most modern airfield, for an airport in its size category, in the country,” Stanford said. “It’s something everyone in Saint John should be very proud of.”
He says $15-million invested from the federal and provincial governments helped bring center-line lighting down the runway, new paving, and navigational equipment among several other upgrades that helped the modernization process.
“Saint John is set up for the next two decades, maybe even three, with the investment that’s been made,” said Stanford.
Last summer, Stanford said it would take the airport years to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
Despite the Atlantic provinces maintaining relatively low Covid-19 case numbers, the airport industry was subject to extremely strict guidelines which made it difficult for YSJ to survive.
“It’s been devastating to all airports globally, but in Canada and particularly Atlantic Canada, we had some of the most stringent rules and precautions and border safeguards,” Stanford said.
Looking ahead, the outgoing CEO says YSJ is beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the travel industry.
“We’re keen to hear and see that the vaccine is starting to get rolled out, and we’re looking forward to seeing an easing of restrictions will be a product of that.”
Stanford says he will wait to announce his next position, but he and his wife will remain in Saint John.
Ben Burnett is a reporter with 97.3 The Wave/Country 94, Huddle content partners.
Canadian Aviation News 