photo: The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Government House leader (on left), shakes hands with Court Edeburn.
By Court Edeburn
When I stepped into this role last month, people asked what my first priority would be. The answer was straightforward: more flights, more often.
Everything we want to accomplish at Saint John Airport – a better customer experience, stronger connections to the region, greater economic impact – begins with increasing frequency and capacity.
That means working with airlines to add seats, improve schedules, and create the kind of seamless connections that make travel easier for the people and businesses of southern New Brunswick.
It won’t be easy, but it’s goal number one. And it’s one I’ve spent my career preparing for.
Throughout my time in travel and transportation – from managing train station operations in the Canadian Rockies to running passenger services for Air Canada – I’ve learned that success comes down to solving problems for the people you serve.
For airlines, that means delivering revenue and filling seats. For travellers, that means reliability, convenience, and confidence that their journey will go smoothly.
Our job at YSJ is to bring those two things together.
When I drove around this region during my very first visit to Saint John – through St. Martins, St. Stephen, Saint Andrews, Rothesay, Quispamsis and Hampton – what struck me most was the strength of this community and the quality of what’s here. This is a growing population with a powerful business community. There’s real opportunity here. But coming from Western Canada, I didn’t know that until I saw it for myself. And that’s part of what we need to change.
We’re not competing with Fredericton or Moncton. We’re simply asking travellers to look at what Saint John offers – and reminding airlines that there’s room for all of us to succeed.
If someone from Saint John is driving to Halifax to catch an international flight, our job is to provide a seamless connection from here. If they’re heading to Western Canada, we need to ensure they can get there efficiently through Toronto or Montreal.
The demand is here. The business case is here. Our task is to showcase what this region represents and work with airlines to meet that demand.
What stood out to me almost immediately was the people. From the team keeping this airport running day in and day out, to business and community leaders across the region – there’s a shared pride in YSJ and what it represents.
As we increase capacity, we’ll be able to elevate the customer experience in ways that match the hospitality this region is known for. We are focused on making sure that every person who comes through Saint John Airport knows they’re in a place where people care about their journey.
I’ve seen what happens when you combine operational excellence with genuine hospitality. At Rocky Mountaineer, we delivered a world-class experience by focusing relentlessly on both.
Air travel can be stressful. Anyone who flies knows that. But I believe the airport itself can help change that experience. It should be welcoming, supportive, and reliable. It should be a place of happiness along a journey. The team here already understands that. What we’re doing now is building the capacity and connections that allow us to deliver on it more fully.
Over my first few weeks here, I’ve been struck by how much this airport means to the community it serves — and how much the community supports this airport in return.
That connection matters. It’s part of what drew me here.
My goal isn’t simply to manage an airport. It’s to help strengthen the connections this region depends on and support the growth it’s ready for.
Court Edeburn is President & CEO of the Saint John Airport.