B.C. Aviation Council awards 2024 Robert S. Day Outstanding Contribution Trophy to Professor Emeritus David Gillen

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus David Gillen, a valued member of our academic community and an esteemed figure in the field of transportation economics. Please visit his In Memoriam page here.

During their annual Silver Wings Industry and Scholarship Awards Celebration in Vancouver, UBC Sauder Professor Emeritus Dr. David Gillen was recognized for his exceptional leadership in the promotion and development of aviation in B.C. with the 2024 Robert S. Day Outstanding Contribution Trophy by the B.C. Aviation Council (BCAC).

The Robert S. Day Trophy is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding excellence, contribution and leadership of an individual or organization for the promotion and development of aviation in British Columbia, in keeping with the objectives of the BCAC.

Dr. Gillen is the Director of the UBC Sauder Centre for Transportation Studies and is the YVR Professor of Transportation Policy. He has published over 100 articles and books on various areas of transportation economics, including airline competition and industry structure, airport economics and noise externalities, and transportation policy in Canada and the United States. His extensive research on airlines and airports also focused on the maritime sector and port infrastructure where there are strong parallels between the aviation and maritime supply/value chains. He was the lead researcher in Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative and is a current member of the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council. 

Dr. Gillen is unquestionably one of the world’s top aviation economists,” said BCAC Executive Director Dave Frank, who along with UBC Sauder Dean Darren Dahl, accepted the award on his behalf. “Gillen has stood out by measuring the value of Canada’s aviation network completing multiple presentation and research projects that have contributed to the industry’s growth. Some study subjects have included air slot programs, airport congestion, global hubs, air-service agreements, risk and liability, and supply-chain impacts. Gillen can be counted on to provide an in-depth analysis of future economic impacts with a broad and unbiased perspective.” stated Frank.