By Court Edeburn, President & CEO of the Saint John Airport
As I sit in my office and look out over the runway at Saint John Airport, it’s hard not to reflect on what an incredible few weeks our region has had.
Just a few days ago, this airport was filled with thousands of people attending the Air Show Atlantic. Families, aviation enthusiasts, veterans, local businesses, community organizations, volunteers, and visitors from across Atlantic Canada all came together for something truly special.
Before the air show even began, we hosted a community mixer at Saint John Ale House where more than 120 people from across our region joined us to talk about the future of Saint John Airport and the opportunities ahead. Business leaders, tourism operators, economic development partners, artists, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and community champions filled the room. The conversations weren’t just about flights and runways—they were about growth, connection, and what is possible when a community believes in itself.
That same feeling carried into the air show weekend.
Over four days, we welcomed more than 10,000 people to the airport. The grounds were packed with exhibitors, aircraft displays, helicopters, community organizations, vendors, and experiences that gave people a chance to get up close to an industry that often feels distant from everyday life.
What stood out to me wasn’t necessarily the aircraft, although seeing the Snowbirds take to the skies and watching the SkyHawks parachute into the show were certainly unforgettable moments.
What stood out was the people.
I watched children look up in complete amazement. I listened to stories from people who were reconnecting with memories of military service, aviation careers, and airshows they hadn’t attended in years. I saw families spending time together. I saw neighbours reconnecting. I saw people who were proud to be Canadian and proud to call this region home.
For a few days, the airport became more than a transportation hub. It became a gathering place. And that’s really what airports are about.
Yes, we connect people to destinations. Yes, we work every day to strengthen air service and create new opportunities for travel and business. But at the heart of it, we connect people. We help families stay close. We help businesses grow. We help visitors discover our region. We create opportunities for investment, tourism, education, and economic development.
Those things matter.
As CEO, I spend a lot of time thinking about what success looks like for Saint John Airport. Of course, we want to see more flights, more passengers, and more opportunities for our community. But success is also seeing thousands of people walk through our gates for an event like the Atlantic Airshow and leave feeling proud of where they live.
Saint John has tremendous potential. We all know it. We see it every day in the people who choose to build businesses here, raise families here, create here, and invest here. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to keep championing what we have.
We need to support our local businesses. We need to use our airport. We need to advocate for our region. We need to tell our story.
When we do that, good things happen. New opportunities emerge. New partnerships are formed. More visitors discover what makes this place special. Airlines take notice. Businesses take notice. Investors take notice.
Growth doesn’t happen because one organization pushes for it. Growth happens when an entire community moves in the same direction.
On a personal note, one of my favourite parts of the past few weeks was having my family there with me. They attended the events, experienced the Airshow, and got to see firsthand the incredible energy that exists in this community.
My family and I love living here. We’re proud to call this region home, and we’re grateful to be raising our children here. The people, the sense of community, and the opportunities ahead are what make this place special.
There are a lot of exciting things happening at Saint John Airport right now, and even more on the horizon. While the Airshow may be over and the crowds have gone home, the momentum continues.
I’m grateful to our staff, volunteers, sponsors, partners, exhibitors, airlines, and everyone who attended. Events like these remind us what can happen when people come together around a shared vision.
The runway outside my window is quiet again today.
But the future certainly isn’t.