Funding and Reforms for Screening a Positive Move for Air Travellers

Canada's airports today welcomed the Government of Canada's commitment in Budget 2019 to invest in improving security screening at Canada's airports for the coming government fiscal year, and looks forward to discussions with government on a new corporate structure for CATSA.

Canada's airports have sought permanent structural changes to how the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is funded on an ongoing basis, for it to be accountable to service standards and its funding more responsive to growing passenger volumes. In Budget 2019, the Federal Government pledged additional funding for CATSA screening for this year, and indicated it will introduce legislation to transition CATSA to an independent, not-for-profit entity.

"Keeping people and goods moving is essential to business and trade flow. Air travellers deserve safe and comfortable journeys through Canada's airports, and that means being able to go through security screening in a timely and professional manner," said CAC President Daniel-Robert Gooch. "Canada's airports have long called for structural reforms to normalize CATSA's funding structure, to ensure the organization is able to better plan long term and serve the needs of travellers well into the future. As is so often the case, there are many details to be worked out to ensure the transition to a new model is successful, and improves service to travellers while maintaining the high security standards we have today."

Canada's airports and major air carriers have sought a service level commitment for screening that would see 95 per cent of originating passengers at the eight largest airports screened in under 10 minutes, even quicker standards for connecting passengers, and with no passenger waiting more than 20 minutes at any CATSA screening point.

About the Canadian Airports Council

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), the voice for Canada's airports community, has 53 members representing more than 100 airports, including all of the privately operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports across Canada. Canada's NAS airports are independently operated by non-share capital corporations that reinvest all financial surpluses back into the airport for the benefit of users and the community.

Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation's air cargo and international passenger traffic, and 95% of domestic passenger traffic.

They provide 194,000 direct jobs, $19 billion to the national GDP and $48 billion in direct economic activity. They also provide municipal, provincial and federal governments $6.9 billion in tax revenues each year.