March 2015 Newsletter

With the new federal budget just weeks away, Canada's airports are optimistic existing resources and revenue streams can be re-allocated to improve the passenger experience and stimulate economic development.

 

Last fall, in its pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, the CAC elected to focus primarily on items of an immediately urgent nature, in particular the provision of resources for pre-board security screening.

Funding for screening is critical given that customer experience and airport reputation is directly impacted by wait times.   

Consistent with the Government of Canada's user-pay approach to air travel,
screening is conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and paid for by passengers via the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC), which is applied to every airfare. Despite steady year-over-year growth in passenger volumes nationwide and a corresponding rise in ATSC revenue, however, the CATSA budget has been cut significantly and is essentially frozen at 2010 levels.

 

In fact, 2014-15 estimates show a $74 million surplus for CATSA and aviation security functions supported by the ATSC. As such, the CAC remains optimistic the government can reallocate funding to sufficient levels in the upcoming budget, resulting in shorter lines at airports, fewer missed flights, and less frustrated passengers. Over the longer term, strengthening the reputation of Canadian airports as reliable transiting hubs will also have a positive economic impact on communities served by this tourism and trade-enabling infrastructure.   


Airports Canada 2015 Conference and Exhibition: Come Take Flight to Vancouver!
Airports Council International-North America and the CAC invite airport, airline and aviation leaders from Canada and beyond to attend the Airports Canada 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Vancouver from March 25 to 27, 2015.

The premiere event of its kind in Canada, this biennial industry conference serves as a valuable opportunity for key decision-makers across the sector to share ideas, best practices and intelligence on the leading strategic and operational tools in use at Canadian airports and around the world. 


The CAC is putting together a dynamic program this year featuring David Emerson, Chair of the CTA Review and David Solloway, President of Canada Jetlines Ltd., as well as presentations and panel discussions involving influential leaders across Canadian and international aviation, transportation, tourism, business and public policy.

In total, seven sessions are being organized that will focus on connectivity, air service development, promoting Canada abroad, enhancing security, the CTA Review, the need for a national transportation strategy, and the realities of political Ottawa.

Rooms at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver may sell out so make your reservations as soon as possible. We look forward to welcoming you to Vancouver!
Fredericton
The chair of the Fredericton International Airport (FIAA), Brent Melanson, announced on February 16 the board had hired Johanne Gallant as its new CEO. Formerly the director of airport development and acting president and CEO at Moncton International Airport, Ms. Gallant assumed her new duties in Fredericton on March 2.

Gallant spent the last decade at the Moncton Airport, where she was instrumental in developing and growing its cargo services to and from Europe. She also oversaw a major runway expansion, and negotiated new airline services. The new CEO succeeds David Innes, who had served as FIAA's president and CEO since 2001.
Regina Airport Authority appoints Richmond Graham as new CEO
On March 2, the Regina Airport Authority (RAA) announced it had appointed Richmond Graham as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. Graham brings to the airport more than 20 years of executive leadership and senior management experience in the mining and natural resources sectors.

"I am excited to work with the RAA team and continue to drive innovation, delight our customers, deliver superior operating results, and build the infrastructure necessary to position the region for continued growth and success," he said in a statement.

Mr. Graham assumes his new duties March 23 as head of an airport that recently earned a prestigious award in the under 4 million passengers category at the 2015 Routes Americas Marketing Awards last month in Denver, Colorado.

First issued in 1997 to recognize excellence in airport marketing, the awards are voted on by senior members of the airline network planning community who review submissions from a shortlist of airports to determine the winner.
Edmonton Airport named one of Alberta's Top Employers for 2015
Edmonton
The Edmonton International Airport was named in February as one of Alberta's Top 70 Employer fo r 2015 by Mediacorp editors.

The airport was recognized for its approach to vacation allowance and time off, retirement planning assistance, staff benefits and pension plans, professional development, maternity leave top-ups for new moms and the option to extend maternity leave into an unpaid leave of absence.


The Alberta's Top Employers list is created by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers and is now in its eleventh year.

YVR opens new A-B Connector
The Vancouver International Airport Authority in January celebrated the opening of its newly expanded and upgraded domestic terminal, the A-B Connector. The terminal features new gate capacity, an expedited baggage system, seismic technology to mitigate against an earthquake, and a wide range of new dining and shopping options.

The new $213 million expansion represents the first major infrastructure project completed as part of YVR's 10-year gateway strategy announced in 2012 to keep the airport competitive and an economic generator for British Columbia. It was built using funds collected from the Airport Improvement Fee, retail sales and airplane landing fees.

The A-B Connector contains architectural features that evoke the province's vineyards and orchards, fishing lodges and the Fraser River Canyon and is anchored by The Rivers Monument, a contemporary art piece by First Nations artist Marianne Nicolson.
A�roports de Montr�al benefits from funding deal
In January, A�roports de Montr�al (ADM) welcomed an announcement by the Government of Qu�bec and the Caisse de d�p�t et placement du Qu�bec which paves the way for an innovative new framework for future financing and the completion of major infrastructure projects in the province.

As part of the new framework, a public transit system linking downtown Montreal, Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and the West Island of Montreal will be prioritized. ADM regards the public transit system as essential to the future of airport operations and development of air services in Montreal.
UP Express intensifies testing for spring launch
The new Union Pearson Express rail service linking Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport increased test runs in February in anticipation of a spring launch.

A division of Ontario's Metrolinx transit agency, the UP Express is a significant addition to the public transit landscape in Toronto and part of an overall strategy to improve coordination and integration of transportation throughout Canada's largest city.

According to UP Express, the official date for the start of service will be announced after the successful completion of the testing phase. The 25-minute, 25 km. end-to-end service is expected to operate at 15-minute intervals in both directions and remove 1.2 million cars of the road in its first year.

"Y" it's great to fly here
When it comes to Canada's interconnected economy, our airports are indispensable. On an annual basis, Canada's airport sector serves approximately 120 million passengers while supporting 141,000 direct jobs, generating $35 billion in GDP and accruing $7 billion in taxes.

Airports facilitate business, international trade and tourism-the movement of people and goods-that ensures Canada can compete on the global stage. To put it simply: airports are a pillar of the economy.

 

Today, the vast majority of airports in Canada are non-share, not-for-profit, community-governed airport authorities. They operate as self-sustaining businesses that support economic development in local communities. 

In order to continue growing passenger and cargo traffic, the Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is seeking measures to ensure visa programs such as Transit Without Visa (TWOV) are expanded, streamlined and aligned with other countries. The CAC and its member airports also support technological innovation and policy reform to achieve meaningful reductions in security screening and
border wait times--all in the name of improving the traveller experience.

The positive economic impacts from increased trade, travel and tourism are indisputable. Assuming Canadian airports are able to capture just 5% of US-bound traffic from Asia, an expanded TWOV program with new origins and carriers would have an estimated impact of $270 million in GDP, producing 3,200 jobs and $110 million for government fiscal balances.
 
Learn more about the priorities of Canada's airports and what this infrastructure needs to remain an essential part of "Y" it's great to fly here. 
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada's airports. Our 45 members represent more than 100 Canadian airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most passenger service airports in every province and territory.

  

For more information:
Gregory Kampf 
Senior Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
gregory.kampf@cacairports.ca
613-560-9302 x15  
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