The federal government has released its long-awaited airport funding package to assist Canada’s airports survive during the next phase of the pandemic and hopefully build towards a re-opening of air travel across the country. UCTE is particularly pleased with the support offered to smaller airports under this plan as it reflects what we lobbied for with the federal government and the Minister’s office.

The plan has 3 components:

Airport Critical Infrastructure Program

This is an infrastructure program designed for larger airports. Specifically, the government has pledged $490 million over the next five years to fund things like runway repairs/rehabilitation, airfield lighting enhancements, investments in terminal buildings, and transit stations at Canada’s largest airports.

Airport Relief Fund

This is a new relief program to assist smaller airports. The government has committed $64.8 million in funding to airports whose 2019 revenues were less than $250 million. Eligible airports include:

• Prince George Airport
• Victoria International Airport
• Edmonton International Airport
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
• Regina International Airport
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
• Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
• Thunder Bay International Airport
• Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport
• Fredericton International Airport
• Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport
• Saint John Airport
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport
• Charlottetown Airport
• Gander International Airport
• St. John’s International Airport

Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP)

ACAP has been temporarily expanded to allow National Airport System airports with less than one million annual passengers in 2019 (Gander, Charlottetown, Saint John, Fredericton, Moncton, Thunder Bay, London, and Prince George) to apply for funding under the Program in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.