FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
While these measures, announced five months ago and detailed today are welcome, the government must be prepared to take further action to preserve the integrity of Canada’s airports.
OTTAWA, ON May 11, 2021, The Canadian Airports Council, representing over 100 airports and 90 percent of aviation traffic in Canada, welcomed today’s details on federal government aid for airports announced in the November 2020 Fall Economic Statement, but warned that the government must be prepared to take further action, given the severity of the third wave and the continued impact of protracted air travel restrictions and increased health and safety measures on airports’ operations and revenues.
From the start of the pandemic, Canada’s airports have worked to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, repatriate Canadians, and deliver medical equipment, professionals and vaccines to fight this disease.
Today’s announcements included details on three previously announced measures: the Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP) which will provide $490 million over five years to financially assist Canada’s larger airports with investments in critical infrastructure-related to safety, security or connectivity; the Airport Relief Fund (ARF) which provides $65 million in financial relief to targeted Canadian airports to help maintain operations, as well as a one-time funding top-up of $186 million over two years for the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP).
“It is good to see federal government commitments made in the Fall Economic Statement being fulfilled, with funds flowing to airports soon. Unfortunately, the situation is worse than it was when these measures were announced five months ago, with our entire aviation network – from the largest to smallest commercial airports in Canada – compromised by the protracted suppression of passenger traffic to just about 10% of pre-pandemic levels,” said CAC President Daniel-Robert Gooch.
“As our airports await engagement with the federal government on a restart plan, the situation for Canada’s air transport sector will deteriorate even further, and more engagement by the federal government on the long term viability and competitiveness of our sector will be needed for Canada’s air sector to fully support recovery in our tourism sector and economy.”
To support airports of all sizes, the Canadian Airports Council has also asked government to waive – not defer – for the period of recovery, airport rent remitted to government by 22 of Canada’s airports and to provide financial support or interest free loans when necessary. In 2020 and 2021 alone, Canada’s airports anticipate a revenue loss of $5.5 billion which is required to be funded by additional debt of $2.8 billion.
The Canadian Airports Council has, and will continue, to engage government and industry partners to plan for a safe restart of air travel that ensures Canada emerges from the pandemic ready to support demand and economic recovery when the time is right.
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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 54 members represent more than 100 airports, including all of the privately operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports.
Canada’s locally managed and not for profit airports are essential community assets. In 2019, they supported 194,000 direct jobs, contributed $19 billion to GDP and $48 billion in direct economic outputs. They also remitted $6.9 billion in taxes to municipal, provincial and federal governments.
For more information, please contact:
Debra Ward
Canadian Airports Council
613 850 9118
debra.ward@cacairports.ca
