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Canada's Airports Await Emerson Report on Air Transport Policy
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| By Daniel-Robert Gooch, president, Canadian Airports Council |
Canada's air transport sector is doing fairly well. Canadian airports are reporting growth numbers of 3.7% for the first nine months of the year and our nation's two biggest publicly-traded air carrier groups are reporting regular profits.
But while it could be a challenge convincing elected officials of the need to improve prospects for aviation, a much-anticipated report on air transport policy coming early in the New Year offers a tremendous opportunity to improve the long-term prospects of the sector to the benefit of consumers and the 405,000 jobs that air transport supports in Canada.
Canada's airports have a tremendous story to tell. Over the past quarter century there has been tremendous growth in aviation and airports have invested more than $19 billion in improvements to handle this growth and dramatically improve the passenger experience. This has occurred almost entirely without government money, representing tremendous value for the Canadian taxpayer.
Canada's airports spent much of 2015 providing input into the Canada Transportation Act Review. The final report, conducted over the past year and a half by the Hon. David Emerson and his panel, will be delivered to the new Minister of Transport Marc Garneau by the end of this year. The report and its recommendations will become known to industry and the broader public early in the New Year.
These are some of the areas the CAC will be watching:
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Improving the traveller experience
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Canada's airports are constantly improving the passenger experience. Innovation in passenger facilitation has enhanced the passenger experience while making airports safer and more secure. In the area of security screening, however, wait times have been steadily increasing in recent years as fewer funds have made their way to the crown corporation Canadian Air Transport Security Authority to perform its screening function.
Airports are seeking service level standards for CATSA at higher volume airports, and for CATSA to receive the funding it needs to meet that standard. |
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Safe, strong local airports
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Canada has a strong local airport authority model that has served Canada well. The National Airports System (NAS) category of airports, however, has been excluded from accessing
federal infrastructure funding programs. Broadening access, particularly for safety and security-related upgrades, would be very beneficial for Canada's small airports.
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Growing a globally connected Canada by air
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Airports are the local connection to Canada's global trading economy; more flexible and nimble approaches to border, visa and air trade policies support continued international growth.
Key projects include the continued expansion of Transit Without Visa, which allows travellers the ability to transit through Canada without needing a visa. This transit traffic in turn supports international air routes to Canada that might not otherwise be financially sustainable.
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Value for money
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The Canadian taxpayer has been well served by Canada's approach to aviation with major investments in airport infrastructure made since 1992 paid for by travelers, not taxpayers. However after more than 20 years of the user-pay approach to aviation, passengers are being asked to pay more and receive less in return. Canada's airports seek the reinvestment of federal fees and taxes to benefit aviation and a rethink of the formula on which airport rent is based.
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Canada's New Government Sworn into Office; Former Astronaut Marc Garneau named Minister of Transport
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| Canada's new Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau. |
On November 4, Canada's newest government was sworn into office in Ottawa with a 30-member cabinet made up of new and veteran Members of Parliament. A former astronaut was called on to serve as Minister of Transport, veteran MPs are serving as ministers for citizenship and public safety, while a mix of relatively new and rookie MPs have taken up the international trade, innovation, infrastructure, and small business and tourism portfolios.
New Minister of Transport, former astronaut and past president of the Canadian Space Agency Marc Garneau was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Westmount-Ville-Marie in 2008. In his first mandate he served as the Liberal critic for Industry, Science and Technology as well as the Leader's representative for Québec. He was re-elected in 2011 and served as House Leader for the Liberal Party and Liberal critic for Natural Resources. Mr. Garneau will serve as a member of three committees of Cabinet: Parliamentary Affairs, Canada in the World and Public Security, and its subcommittee on Canada-U.S. Relations.
Two long-serving Liberal MPs and former cabinet ministers Ralph Goodale and John McCallum have been named Ministers of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, respectively. Meanwhile, long-time MP Scott Brison was named President of the Treasury Board; rookie MP Bill Morneau was became Minister of Finance; re-elected MP Chrystia Freeland was named Minister of International Trade, returning MP Navdeep Bains was named Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; rookie MP Amarjeet Sohi assumed the role of Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; and rookie MP Bardish Chagger became Minister of Small Business and Tourism.
Prime Minister Trudeau has recalled Parliament for December 3 with a Speech from the Throne expected December 4.
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Canada's Airports Win Big at ACI-NA's Marketing and Communications Conference
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Vancouver Airport Authority staff receive one of two Excellence in Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service Awards from ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke [right]
and ACI-NA Marketing and Communications Committee Chair Johanne Gallant [left].
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On November 10, Canada's airports were the winners of four
Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service Awards during Airports Council International-North America's (ACI-NA) inaugural Marketing and Communications Conference in Nashville
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Vancouver Airport Authority
(Marketing Campaigns; Community Education & Outreach), Edmonton International Airport (Annual Reports), Ottawa International Airport (Social Media Campaigns) and St. John's International Airport (Unscheduled Communications) were recognized for their excellence at a gala event hosted by CNN's Robin Meade. Vancouver Airport Authority also took home the 2015 Peggy G. Hereford Award, awarded annually to the most decorated airport and is the highest honour an airport can earn in the public and media relations field.
Canadian airports garnered a number of honourable mentions in a variety of award categories: Vancouver Airport Authority (Partnering with Carriers; Print Communications; Video & Film Production; Newsletters; Partnering with Concessionaires/ Service Providers), Gander International Airport (Newsletters); Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Public Relations Campaigns); Edmonton International Airport (Unscheduled Communications), Calgary International Airport (Unscheduled Communications), and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (Websites).
Congratulations to all the winners and a tip of the cap to those airports earning honourable mentions. A complete list of award recipients is available
here
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Winnipeg Richardson International Airport Wins Premier's Award for Design Excellence
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On October 14,
Winnipeg Richardson International Airport's terminal building was recognized with a Premier's Award for Design Excellence, further adding to the terminal's list of accolades. Stantec Architecture Ltd. with Pelli Clarke Pelli received an Award of Merit as part of the Premier's Awards for Design Excellence which honour the significant contributions made by architects and designers to the social, cultural, artistic and economic development of Manitoba.
Since opening its doors on October 30, 2011, Winnipeg Richardson International Airport has received numerous awards and accolades. In 2012, the airport received a City of Winnipeg Accessibility Award for its thoughtful layout and inclusive design elements. Meanwhile, the Travel Channel considered it one of the world's most iconic airports, CBC News named it as one of the top 10 airports in the world, and London's The Daily Telegraph called it one of the world's most stylish airports.
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Three Canadian Airports Among 10 in North America Recognized for Airport Carbon Accreditation
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At a special ceremony October 5 during ACI-NA's Annual Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA, ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin Burke and ACI World Director General Angela Gittens recognized the 10 North American airports to have achieved certification under the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. Airport Carbon Accreditation recognizes airport efforts to manage and reduce CO2 emissions through independent assessment and verification.
Among those recognized since ACI-NA joined the program in 2014 are three Canadian airports: Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, Victoria International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport. "As North American airport participation in the Airport Carbon Accreditation program grows, ACI-NA applauds the significant steps airports are taking to be leaders in environmental stewardship," said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke.
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NAV Canada Announces John Crichton Retirement, Names New CEO
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Nav Canada has announced President & CEO John Crichton will retire on December 31 after leading the nation's air navigation service provide for nearly two decades. John Crichton became the founding chair of Nav Canada in 1995 and since 1997 has served as president and CEO following a long and distinguished career in commercial aviation.
John Crichton's many contributions to aviation are well recognized nationally and internationally. Earlier this year he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. Nav Canada has also announced that executive vice president for administration and general counsel, Neil Wilson, will become president and CEO on January 1, 2016.
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National Airlines Council of Canada Names New Chair
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Mike McNaney of WestJet named chair of the National Airlines Council of Canada.
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The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) announced on October 26 that Mike McNaney was appointed chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. McNaney, WestJet's vice-president of Industry, Corporate and Airport Affairs, succeeded Jean-François Lemay, General Manager of Air Transat.
In addition, NACC has announced the appointments to its board of Colin Copp, president of Jazz Aviation LP and Franco Giampa, Jazz Aviation LP vice president for Airports and System Operations Control. Also named to the board was Air Transat's Mario Lafrance, director of Quality Assurance and Technical Operations.
NACC is the national association representing Canada's largest national and international passenger air carriers: Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet.
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Best Practices Guide on Commercial Ground Transportation at Airports Unveiled
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Commercial Ground Transportation at Airports: Best Practices
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Last month, the U.S.-based Transportation Research Board's Airport Cooperative Research Program published Commercial Ground Transportation at Airports: Best Practices [PDF, 33MB), a new guide offering an overview of the ground transportation industry, potential solutions to challenges frequently faced by airport operators, and suggestions on selecting solutions and implementing preferred best practices.
The guide also covers best management practices that ensure safe, comfortable, easy-to-use and efficient commercial ground transportation services including taxis, limousines, shared-ride services, transportation network companies, courtesy vehicles, buses and vans.
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ACI World and CANSO Launch New Initiative to Reduce Noise
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ACI World and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) recently launched a new initiative to help reduce noise from aviation. On September 23, the two organizations jointly published
Managing the Impacts of Aviation Noise, a guide for reducing aviation noise, especially for communities near airports. In a release announcing the publication, ACI World states the initiative will be rolled out to airports and air traffic management organizations across the globe.
The guide examines the challenge posed by aviation noise and describes methods that airport operators and air navigation service providers can use to manage and reduce its impact. It reviews four current approaches for managing noise: reducing noise at the source; land use planning; noise-reduction operational procedures; and operating restrictions. Operational procedures include techniques such as tailored arrivals, continuous descent operations, arrival or departure path alternation and managing thrust.
"The aviation industry needs to address the concerns of local communities about aviation noise to maintain the support of governments and the general public and to maintain our licence to operate," said Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World.
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The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada's airports. Our 48 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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