Airport boss ready for take off
FROM CANADA TO OUR TROPICAL PARADISE, CAIRNS AIRPORT’S NEW CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER FOR AVIATION PAUL MCLEAN HAS COME A LONG WAY AND THE SKY LOOKS LIKE HIS LIMIT, WRITES HAYDEN SMITH
The fresh Far North air and the prospect of a two-minute commute were enough to parachute Paul McLean, a Vancouver Canucks fan, in to one of Cairns Airport’s most important roles. As the new chief commercial officer for aviation, the 40year-old is tasked with managing the airport’s relations with its current — and potentially future — carriers. The Canadian citizen who describes himself as an “airline brat”, has played a key role in expanding Air Canada’s Australian operations. While guarded about specific destinations or new carriers for Cairns, he said the international terminal was where the opportunities lay.
THE fresh Far North air and the prospect of a two-minute commute were enough to woo Paul McLean, a Vancouver Canucks fan, who has landed one of Cairns Airport’s most important roles.
As the new chief commercial officer for aviation, the 40year-old is tasked with managing the airport’s relations with its current – and potentially future – carriers.
Mr McLean built his reputation through a series of sales and marketing roles at Air Canada over the past 12 years, the last four of which were spent in Sydney as the airline’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s been an interesting change for me,” he said.
“I’m used to working in a very short-term strategic environment.
“Now I’m getting more into the long-term strategic planning, which is a good change.
“The really good thing about long-term planning is that you can manoeuvre more effectively.
“If you’re chasing shortterm wins, you might not be in the position to always make the best choice.” The Canadian citizen described himself as being an “airline brat”.
He was born in the riverside city of Port Coquitlam, just east of Vancouver, and raised in an “aviation family”.
“My father was in the industry and other family members worked with airlines and airports,” Mr McLean said. “It’s in the blood a little bit. “But I’m the first one who’s ventured outside of Canada.”
Mr McLean played a key role in expanding Air Canada’s Australian operations, including the introduction of direct flights between Brisbane and Vancouver.
“To make it happen, it takes an incredible amount of work. Sometimes years,” he said.
“But I will say this very clearly – I was part of a team that did that.
“But it does feel good to have it come to fruition and also to have it being sustainable now.”
His tenure comes on the back of big wins for Cairns with China Southern and Hainan Airlines set to launch direct services between China and the Far North.
Mr McLean, a husband and father-of-two, said he was drawn to Cairns by the lifestyle and the airport’s “growth potential”.
While guarded about speci-
PAUL MCLEAN PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN EXPANDING AIR CANADA’S AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN BRISBANE AND VANCOUVER
fic destinations or new carriers on the airport’s radar, he said the international terminal was where the opportunities laid.
“I can’t speak specifically to where and how, but when you look at the major international travellers that are visiting Cairns, it’s really only a few big regions – Europe, Asia and China and North America,” Mr McLean said.
“Tapping into those markets, with more offers for direct services, is where the airport needs to go.
“There is good potential and I think we can certainly make it work. All stakeholders and all partners need to come together to do that though.
“That includes everything from the council, tourism industry and government – and I know they all want to grow the business here.”
Affable and with a sense of humour, Mr McLean seems right at home in Cairns.
He lives with his young family at Edge Hill.
Mr McLean said it was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Sydney.
“My commute has gone from 40 minutes in Sydney to about two minutes in Cairns,” he said.
“We’ve been tourists to Cairns several times, so we actually did know a little bit about it before we came up.
MY FATHER WAS IN THE INDUSTRY, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WORKED WITH AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS. IT’S IN THE BLOOD A LITTLE BIT PAUL MCLEAN
“My wife is Brazilian, so for her this is paradise.
“And it’s a magical place for our two young kids to grow up in.”
Mr McLean said his favourite part about working in aviation was the ability to “connect people”.
“I like watching the faces on people when they’ve seen someone who they haven’t seen for a long time,” he said.
“That is what drives me in the industry and what has kept me here – the ability to connect people on the most personal level.”