Airports Pledge to Participate in CATSA Review

Canadian Airports Council is committed to working with Minister of Transport on review of aviation security

OTTAWA, Feb. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - While disappointed at an increase in the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC) announced today, Canada's airports pledged to work closely with the federal government on its comprehensive review of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

"While Canada's airports are generally opposed to anything that increases the cost of a plane ticket, we recognise that there is an increased burden on aviation security resources in this country today," said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette. "We welcome a review of CATSA in order to ensure that the money collected from the Air Traveller's Security Charge is accounted for and spent on aviation security in a transparent manner."

A crown corporation, CATSA is responsible for the pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings; baggage screening through airport explosives detection systems; and screening and tracking of non-passengers entering airport restricted areas.

As part of today's announcement, the government said it will launch a full review of CATSA's spending, efficiency and structure to ensure it is fulfilling its mandate effectively. The government says the review will include significant participation of stakeholders, such as the CAC, and will examine the effectiveness of the hundreds of millions of dollars invested annually in aviation security, in order to determine whether alternative models would better serve the needs of industry and the travelling public.

About the Canadian Airports Council

The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada's airports. Its 47 members represent more than 200 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation's air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic. They create in excess of $45 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve. And more than 200,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.

For further information: Daniel-Robert Gooch, Director of Communications, Canadian Airports Council, [phone] ext 16, [email protected]