September 15, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Ottawa, ON—Today, the Prime Minister announced the federal government’s intent to pursue private investment through long-term concession models for Canada’s four largest airports. Every day, airports and airlines work hand in hand to deliver safe, efficient, accessible air travel to hundreds of thousands of people from Canada and around the world.

 

“Travellers and airlines paid to build these airports, and we will be reviewing the Government of Canada’s proposed changes carefully to ensure they do not pay more because investors will own a share of them,” said Jeff Morrison, President and CEO of NACC. “New investment in our airports is a welcome development when it leads to more affordable air travel for Canadians.”

 

The National Airlines Council of Canada believes that the following principles must be front and centre as airport privatization proceeds:

 

  •  Alternative ownership models must not impose new costs within the air travel system and seek to reduce the cost of travel. Government needs to ensure that aeronautical charges remain affordable through the implementation of an independent economic regulation and the elimination or transparent reinvestment of airport rents.
  • Obligations for concession revenues to be reinvested to support much needed and ongoing airport infrastructure modernization, including but not limited to biometric implementation, Canadian Border Services Agency IT systems, air navigation technology improvements, and improvements to security screening technology and processes.
  • Airports and airlines work closely to respect and enhance service standards – any new ownership model must ensure that existing service standards are maintained and preferably strengthened.
  • Government must prioritize fair access and commercial programs that support growth, productivity, international cost competitiveness and passenger outcomes. Airport governance models should be created under the premise of accountability to the travelling public and airport users. This should include transparency, as well as meaningful airline consultation and involvement.
  • Canada needs to carefully review similar airport privatization efforts elsewhere in the world so that lessons can be learned and ownership models put in place that prioritize the needs of airport users.

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About the National Airlines Council of Canada:

The National Airlines Council of Canada represents Canada’s largest national and international passenger air carriers: Air Canada, Air Transat, Jazz Aviation LP and WestJet. It promotes safe, sustainable, accessible and competitive air travel by advocating for the development of policies, regulations and legislation to foster a world-class transportation system. In 2024, air transportation contributed an estimated 3.8% of Canada’s GDP, and supported 809,000 jobs in Canada.

For media requests:

For English requests, please contact Josie Sabatino at jsabatino@summa.ca; 250-649-6856.

For French requests, please contact Carlene Variyan, cvariyan@summa.ca; 613-601-7456.