Airport hosts in-terminal event in honour of airport workers and a YTZ team member is recognized with national award from Canadian Airports Council
TORONTO, ON – Yesterday, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport proudly joined airports across the country in celebrating National Airport Workers Day, an initiative of the Canadian Airports Council that recognizes the vital contributions of airport workers in keeping Canada connected and moving.
More than 2,000 dedicated individuals work at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and their efforts were honoured during a special ceremony held in the airport’s passenger terminal. The event brought together employees, partners, and leadership from PortsToronto and Nieuport Aviation to express appreciation for the people who ensure the airport operates safely, efficiently, and with care every day.
As part of the celebration, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport was thrilled to recognize Zaina Alhillou, who received the National Airport Workers Day Award for “Airport Innovator” from the Canadian Airports Council. Zaina, who has worked at the airport for six years with terminal partner Nieuport Aviation, has played an instrumental role in shaping the airport’s future through her leadership on transformative projects.
From overseeing the $50-million terminal upgrade completed in 2018 to leading the development of the airport’s forthcoming U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility, Zaina has consistently demonstrated innovation, strategic vision, and a commitment to enhancing the passenger experience. Her work exemplifies the spirit of the Airport Innovator award, which celebrates forward-thinkers who drive meaningful change in the aviation sector.
“Operating an airport welcoming more than two million passengers a year is complex,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto. “Every day, airport workers at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport handle a vast range of responsibilities, mostly behind the scenes. The care our airport employees take in coordinating operations, ensuring safety and providing an excellent passenger experience to the highest standards possible is outstanding. Our team truly cares about making this airport among the best in the world and today we recognize this commitment.”
“Thank you to everyone at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and at airports across Canada, for their dedication and passion,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO of Nieuport Aviation. “The award-winning passenger experience that travellers have come to expect from YTZ is a direct result of the hard work and commitment the entire team brings to the airport day in and day out. I’d also like to congratulate Zaina for being recognized with an Airport Innovator award. We are incredibly proud to see her recognized for the impact she’s made.”
National Airport Workers Day serves as a reminder of the scale and impact of Canada’s aviation sector. In 2025, more than 150 million passengers are expected to travel through Canadian airports, supported by over 200,000 direct airport jobs. Today’s celebration is a tribute to the people who make that possible.
Photo captions
AWD_BB1: (from left) Warren Askew, Vice President, Airport, PortsToronto; Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation; RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, PortsToronto; Zaina Alhillou, Billy Bishop Airport employee and recipient of the 2025 “Airport Innovator” award from the Canadian Airports Council; Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation; and Eve Wiggins, Chief Operating Officer, Nieuport Aviation. Photo credit: Jude Lazaro, DCAM Productions
AWD_BB2-7: The celebrations included cookies from local bakery Craig’s Cookies; prizes for employees; and live music from local performer Olivia B as part of Billy Bishop’s Music on the Fly program. Photo credit: Jude Lazaro, DCAM Productions
About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Offering service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connection opportunities to more than 100 international destinations via our airlines’ networks, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an important international gateway that will deliver a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility. The airport is a key driver of Toronto’s economy, generating more than $2.1 billion in total economic output and supporting 4,450 jobs, including 2,080 directly associated with the airport’s operations.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has served its community for more than 85 years from its iconic location on the Toronto waterfront, where it facilitates healthcare for Ontarians by providing a base for medevac services connected to local hospitals. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is committed to achieving its vision of cleaner, greener and quieter operations, and is renowned for its unique travel experience, efficiency, and customer service, having won a host of passenger-driven and environmental achievement awards. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by PortsToronto. Nieuport Aviation owns and operates the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. To learn more, please visit www.billybishopairport.com.
