YYZ hires LAX CEO to run Pearson

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Deborah Flint takes over from Howard Eng next April when he retires. I looked at the LA papers and the LAX website to see if there were any issues with her departure, but can't see any. Her departure hasn't even been announced in SoCal. Looks like she wanted a different challenge, or a raise. Seems like a heavy hitter. She's also "Canadian-born", although seems to have spent almost her entire lift based in the US. I suspect a big part of her mandate will be ground transportation. The GTAA wants to build a big regional transit hub at the airport, and the province wants to extend the East-West LRT to the airport, which would fit with the transit hub concept.

 

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/toronto-pearson-welcomes-deborah-flint-as-new-president-and-ceo-895486400.html

 

TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2019 /CNW/ - The Board of Directors of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) today announced the appointment of Deborah Flint as President and Chief Executive Officer of the GTAA.  Ms. Flint will commence her new role in April 2020 following more than 4 years as CEO of Los Angeles World Airports and 24 years serving in executive roles in the aviation industry.  

"Deborah is a proven aviation executive who has been leading Los Angeles World Airports, one of the world's largest passenger and cargo airports, through a period of significant transformation, including the development of an intermodal transit centre," said Doug Allingham, Chair of the GTAA Board of Directors. "The GTAA Board undertook a global search for a new leader to help guide Toronto Pearson through its next phase of growth, and we are pleased to have found a Canadian-born airport executive with the energy, passion and experience to continue on with our vision to make Toronto Pearson the best airport in the world." 

In her role at Los Angeles World Airports, which operates both Los Angeles International and Van Nuys (general aviation) airports, Ms. Flint has focused the organization on the $14-billion modernization of its terminals, runway improvements, and a comprehensive transit program that includes roadway improvements and an intermodal transportation facility.  Ms. Flint's deep experience in connecting airports to regional transit networks dates back to her tenure as Aviation Director of Oakland International Airport where she delivered the BART, a $480 million Airport Rail Project. 

"In the world of international airports, Toronto Pearson is a rising and notable star, known for its significant accomplishments on passenger service, growth in passenger traffic, and its leadership in working with both industry and community partners to take a regional perspective on the role a mega-hub airport plays in lifting those around it," said Ms. Flint.  "As a Canadian-born airport executive, I consider it a privilege to be able to return home to lead this organization and ensure it continues to deliver benefits to all of our stakeholders."   

 

[FA@AC]

It's amazing how fast T1 has become outdated.  I guess the building was designed before it was imagined that AC would expand to the extent it has.

Connection flow works well, but the international departure gate area is a mess.  There's nowhere to sit, nowhere to line up to board a flight and it's often next to impossible to reach gates in the corner areas.  Far too much space is taken up by expensive retail/duty free where nobody buys anything.  The customs area is a shambles with 50% of Nexus machines out of service routinely, and arriving pax who aren't Nexus members still need to fill out declaration cards for some reason.  

[xxx]

The restaurants are terrible, food vendors are expensive. The escalators, moving side walks and  trains routinely turned off.

The GTAA seems oblivious.

 The stores that have been put in to simulate a shopping mall are boring .

As mentioned, nowhere to sit, Ipad stations are dumb etc.

Aircrew travel all over the world and notice good and bad terminals. Cyyz is below average.