Philadelphia Set to Welcome World Leaders with New Aviation Chief at the Helm
As summer approaches, Philadelphia is bracing for its busiest tourism season in years, but not all is steady on the ground just yet. The city's aviation chief, Atif Saeed, has announced his departure as CEO of the Philadelphia Department of Aviation and director of both Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport, effective February 27.
Saeed, who took the reins three years ago, will be replacing himself at San Diego International Airport in a new role. His leadership will be taken over by Tracy S. Borda, an experienced airport administrator with 30 years under her belt at PHL. The city plans to conduct a national search for his replacement.
During his tenure, Saeed oversaw major capital improvement projects and expanded the airport workforce. When he arrived in December 2022, he led the Division of Aviation as it was rebranded into a formal department of the city, joining Mayor Cherelle Parker's cabinet. Under his leadership, Philadelphia International Airport emerged from the pandemic stronger, modernization efforts advanced, and the city positioned itself to welcome international visitors with confidence.
Saeed expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city and looked forward to welcoming millions of visitors this summer, which includes events like the FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and the PGA Championship. He acknowledged that Philly's airports are prepared to handle the influx of tourists but declined to comment further on his reasons for leaving.
Mayor Parker praised Saeed for his contributions to the city's aviation department, saying he spearheaded initiatives that positioned Philadelphia as a hub for international travel and development. His departure marks an opportunity for the city to continue growing its air transportation network with Borda at the helm.
As summer approaches, Philadelphia is bracing for its busiest tourism season in years, but not all is steady on the ground just yet. The city's aviation chief, Atif Saeed, has announced his departure as CEO of the Philadelphia Department of Aviation and director of both Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport, effective February 27.
Saeed, who took the reins three years ago, will be replacing himself at San Diego International Airport in a new role. His leadership will be taken over by Tracy S. Borda, an experienced airport administrator with 30 years under her belt at PHL. The city plans to conduct a national search for his replacement.
During his tenure, Saeed oversaw major capital improvement projects and expanded the airport workforce. When he arrived in December 2022, he led the Division of Aviation as it was rebranded into a formal department of the city, joining Mayor Cherelle Parker's cabinet. Under his leadership, Philadelphia International Airport emerged from the pandemic stronger, modernization efforts advanced, and the city positioned itself to welcome international visitors with confidence.
Saeed expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city and looked forward to welcoming millions of visitors this summer, which includes events like the FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and the PGA Championship. He acknowledged that Philly's airports are prepared to handle the influx of tourists but declined to comment further on his reasons for leaving.
Mayor Parker praised Saeed for his contributions to the city's aviation department, saying he spearheaded initiatives that positioned Philadelphia as a hub for international travel and development. His departure marks an opportunity for the city to continue growing its air transportation network with Borda at the helm.
like whats next? first it was saeed leaving, now its borda taking over 
and we still got 6 months to go till summer tourists start flooding in 
dont get me wrong, saeed did some cool stuff during his time here but come on, can't they just leave well enough alone 
. Tracy S. Borda seems like a solid choice to take over though - with 30 years of experience under her belt, she should know how to handle the busy summer season 
. Still can't help but wonder what made Atif leave so soon 
...
. Still, it's cool that Tracy S. Borda comes in - 30 years of experience is a big deal! 
I wonder what kind of changes we can expect now 
. And wow, millions of visitors this summer? That's gonna be crazy 
. I'm curious to see how Borda will handle all that 
. I hope the city can still maintain that smooth airport flow after he leaves. 
. Don't wanna be stuck in traffic during the World Cup matches 
. Anyway, Borda seems like a solid choice, so here's to hoping it works out 
And Philly International Airport is gonna be READY for all those tourists this summer - from FIFA World Cup to MLB All-Star Game & PGA Championship... the city's aviation chief has definitely done his part to make it happen 
! but now it's time for Tracy to take the reins and lead the team forward 
can't wait to see what she brings to the table 
️ not sure if he was getting too burned out or just ready for a new challenge, but Tracy S Borda is gonna bring her 30+ yrs of experience to the table 
