OTTAWA – September 15, 2026 – The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) today reacted to an announcement by the Government of Canada to better understand its proposed new approach to attracting private investment in four of the country’s largest airports. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced today that the government intends to seek private investment in Toronto Pearson International Airport, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, while retaining public ownership of the underlying airport land and assets.
The announcement represents a significant change to Canada’s airport governance model, which for more than three decades has relied on locally governed, non-share capital airport authorities to operate many of the country’s largest airports.
“Any new investment coming from the proceeds of this airport user-pay system must be used to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity and affordability for regions across the country.” said Monette Pasher, President of the Canadian Airports Council. “There is a lot of value in the system because Canada’s made-in-Canada airport model has served our country very well for more than 30 years, providing a stable, sovereign and financially sustainable approach to managing critical national infrastructure.”
Canada’s airports operate within a user-pay system and receive little direct government funding for their ongoing operations and capital programs. Since airport devolution began in the 1990s, airport authorities have invested more than $30 billion in infrastructure and improvements. At the same time, airports have returned more than $8.4 billion to the federal government through Crown rent, including $556 million in 2025.
The government has indicated that it intends to reinvest capital generated through its new approach into Canadian infrastructure. CAC believes aviation infrastructure should be a significant part of that reinvestment.
Small and medium-sized airports outside Canada’s largest hubs have identified approximately $19 billion in infrastructure needs over the coming decade. CAC has recommended a new federal infrastructure program to support airport growth and economic development in these communities.
“Canada is entering a period of tremendous growth, and air travel is projected to double in the next decade, our airports will be essential to moving the people and goods that growth requires,” Pasher said. “If the government is able to unlock new value from federal airport assets, a meaningful portion of that value should remain within Canada’s airport system and help build the infrastructure and technology Canadians will depend on for decades to come.”
Canada’s airports are committed to ongoing discussions with the Government of Canada as it develops its way forward. CAC will continue to advocate for an approach that protects affordability, strengthens connectivity, supports economic growth and trade, and ensures Canada maintains a robust, resilient and globally competitive airport system.
About the Canadian Airports Council
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada’s airports community. Its 60 members represent more than 100 airports, including all of the privately-operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports across Canada.
Canada’s airports support 435,800 jobs, providing $32.9 billion in annual wages, generating $49.6 billion in GDP and producing $123.5 billion of annual economic output.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Pondant, Canadian Airports Council