The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) this week voiced support for the increased funding for Canadian airports in the 2023 Canadian federal budget.
The federal government has earmarked an extra C$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) over the next five years for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to “maintain and increase its level of service” in airport screening and overall security.
The government also announced plans to increase the Air Travel Security Charge next year by nearly 33% to C$9.94 (U.S.$7.34) for domestic flights, C$16.89 (U.S$12.47) for flights to the U.S. and C$34.32 (U.S $25.42) for all other international flights.
“Despite challenging times, airports across Canada have strived to recover from the financial impact of the pandemic, keep pace with traveler expectations, and innovate for the 21st century — but they cannot do it alone,” said Monette Pasher, CAC president. “To that end, we are encouraged by the practical, incremental policy steps taken in the 2023 federal budget to assist our sector and improve the passenger journey. The positive budget measures include more screening resources for CATSA, plans to amend the Customs Act to modernize travelers’ experience at the border, and proposed amendments to the Canada Transportation Act for data sharing and reporting.”
