WASHINGTON and OTTAWA, March 18, 2020 – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today issued the following statement on the announced closure of the U.S.-Canada border to all but essential travel:
Given the close relationship between the United States and Canada, and amount of traffic and commerce we share, we commend both Prime Minister Trudeau and President Trump for their leadership in making the difficult but correct decision to protect the health and safety of citizens of both countries as a priority. We are pleased the border will remain open for cargo trade.
The health and safety of travelers and airport workers is an airport’s top priority. As we have been doing for the past several weeks, the Canadian and American airport communities are continually sharing information to help maintain the orderly flow of people and goods across the air border while staying in close contact with our respective government health and border agencies.
Airports have acted to enhance cleaning procedures, with additional hand sanitizer dispensers in high traffic areas and signage on effective preventative measures in washrooms and key locations throughout the terminal, including jet bridges, handrails, border kiosks, and other high touch surfaces, with a focus on international arrivals areas.
The longstanding relationship between Canada and the United States is an important economic driver for both countries. For decades, our airports, airlines, and governments have worked together to find new ways to steadily improve the cross-border flow of travelers and goods. This is not the first time our border access has been challenged by crisis. We have always prevailed, and we will again, as we work with our industry and government partners to resume the flow of people and commerce between our two nations once the pandemic has passed.
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The Canadian Airports Council, a division of ACI-NA, is the voice of Canada’s airports. With 53 members representing more than 100 airports, we work to ensure that Canada’s airports have the regulatory and operational tools they need by advocating for policies that strengthen the ability of Canada’s airports to serve their travellers and communities. Learn more at www.canadasairports.ca
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.
For more:
Scott Elmore
Vice President of Communications and Marketing
(202) 293-8500
Debra Ward
Advisor for Communications and Industry Promotion
(613 )850 9118
Debra.ward@cacairports.ca
