Airport CEO resigns

Hamilton’s airport management group is looking for a new CEO after the resignation of Vijay Bathija.

Ron Foxcroft, the chair of TradePort International Corp., the company that operates the city-owned airport John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, announced the resignation Friday, saying Bathija is “exploring other options and we are delighted for him.”

Bathija took over as CEO and president of TradePort in August 2016 after several years working with Air Canada, most recently as vice-president, commercial with Air Canada Leisure Group, which includes Air Canada Vacations and Air Canada Rouge.

Foxcroft said during Vijay’s tenure, Hamilton International saw a 70 per cent increase in passengers.

“As a result, the airport is on track to welcome more than 570,000 passengers in 2017. This service growth includes the introduction of a number of new routes and increased frequencies to destinations such as Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver,” he said in an email.

The forecasted 570,000 passengers at the airport compares to 333,368 passengers recorded in 2016, up from 312,839 passengers in 2015.

“In addition, cargo activity has also steadily increased, with 2017 set to be one of the airport’s strongest performing years,” said Foxcroft.

Cargo was listed at 439 million kilograms in 2016, compared to 448.1 million kilograms the year before.

“Mr. Bathija was actively involved in raising the profile of Hamilton International through his participation in the Southern Ontario Airport Network. In addition, he used his considerable aviation industry experience to leverage the airport’s convenient location and transportation links to attract Canada’s emerging low-cost carrier market and essential air cargo traffic,” a statement from TradePort said.

Foxcroft said Cathie Puckering will serve as acting president and CEO of TradePort.