Fredericton International Airport Authority CEO stepping down

David Innes, FIAA President and CEO(Fredericton, September 25, 2014) The only President and CEO the Fredericton International Airport Authority has ever had has decided it’s time to retire.

David Innes has been a driving force at the airport since negotiating its transfer from the government of Canada in 2001 and has served at its helm since as CEO. In those years he has overseen the transition of the airport from a government operated facility with serious limitations, to an airport authority being operated on a commercial basis with a facility which is now capable of accommodating the world’s largest aircraft. Over those years he has seen the airport transformed, and the activity expand to where it is today, along the way gaining the designation of an International airport and in recent years setting records for passengers served.

Innes says his biggest accomplishment has been transforming the airport into a commercial entity through the challenges of some very tough years in the world of airlines and airports. In facility terms, our most significant development was the extension of our runway to 8000 feet. “That was our first priority when we took control of the facility. It transformed the capability of the airport greatly because it allowed us to handle bigger planes. In fact” he says “the longer runway enabled the Queen to land here in 2002. Without the runway, that would not have happened and that was a great symbolic beginning. It signaled to the world that we were open for business.”

Innes says through the years the airport has enjoyed and benefitted from excellent support from all levels and all stripes of government “and this was especially important because smaller airports are more vulnerable especially considering the state of the aviation industry over the last 15 years”. Innes says that it has turned the corner now and the future looks brighter for both the industry and our local airport.

But with times better now and Fredericton International Airport doing more business than ever, Innes has decided the time is right to step down. Our next step is to expand our terminal building and this is something that will take about two to three years to complete, so it is a good time for someone else to take over and see it through.”

Innes expects to leave his position as President and CEO by Christmas. The FIAA board is now searching for a successor.