Latest news with #MonettePasher
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Canadian Airports Council Response to the Competition Bureau's Airline Market Report
OTTAWA, ON, /CNW/ - Canadian airports are in a period of growth and investment. More of us want to travel by air and our entire air travel ecosystem is growing, innovating and investing to support increased demand. We fully agree that in a country of Canada's size, air travel is not a luxury, but a necessity. The right set of policy recommendations could help unlock more growth and development. Today's report highlights challenges and provides a timely opportunity to assess the current state of the aviation ecosystem and chart a collaborative path forward. In the view of Canada's airports, the recommendations in the report could be more focused in areas that will actually drive growth and air service for communities. "Cabotage is not the answer to competition in a country as sparse and large as Canada. A foreign carrier is not going to service our smallest towns and thin volume routes," noted Monette Pasher, President of Canadian Airports Council. "We need to package the right policy solution for the specific problem at hand." Canada's airports have been working with government and industry stakeholders to identify practical, policy-driven solutions to ensure that our country remains competitive, connected and prepared to meet the challenges of a shifting global environment. Airports compete for air service globally and support a competitive marketplace. Airports of all sizes are investing in innovations and infrastructure to make their operations more predictable, more sustainable, more safe and more efficient. These airports will need to invest $28-billion over the next decade to keep up with growth and support the communities they serve, which depend on air services for economic opportunity, access to healthcare and social connectivity. Facilitating this growth requires a supportive air policy ecosystem. Airports have put forward a set of policy recommendations for the government to consider this year, including: Extend airport leases by 50 years so they can unlock growth on airport campuses; Establish a Regional Air Connectivity Fund to support equitable air access in remote and northern regions; Support airport infrastructure development through projects of national significance and trade diversification programs; and Recapitalize the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) to $150-million annually in order to support regional, rural and northern airports with safety infrastructure. This report does recognize that Canada's airline sector is more competitive than it has been in a decade. Major airports are seeing increased demand for direct flights and more diverse consumer needs in terms of destinations and services. This will support competition as we develop innovative infrastructure to improve productivity and meet demand. Canada's airports appreciated the opportunity to engage in this dialogue and feed in to these topics, which are important for the connective tissue of our country. There is a clear focus on strengthening a sector that is vital to our economy, our communities and our global competitiveness. About the Canadian Airports Council The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada's airports community. Its 60 members represent more than 100 airports, including all of the privately-operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports across Canada. Canada's airports support 435,800 jobs, provide $32.9 billion in annual wages, generate $49.6 billion in GDP and produce $123.5 billion of annual economic output.
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
New Study Reveals Canadian Airports Generate $123.5 Billion in Annual Economic Output and Support Nearly 436,000 Jobs
OTTAWA, ON, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) has released the findings of a new economic impact study showing the significant contribution of Canada's airports to the national economy. The study highlights that 61 airports across the country supported 435,800 full-time jobs, paid $32.9 billion in annual wages, contributed $49.6 billion to GDP and generated a total economic output of $123.5 billion in 2024. "At a time of global uncertainty and economic change, this report reaffirms what our members and communities have long understood: Airports are not only essential transportation hubs but also powerful economic engines," said Monette Pasher, President of the CAC. "They are essential to ensuring that Canada remains connected, competitive and ready to meet the challenges of a shifting global environment." The study, developed using an updated economic model based on Statistics Canada data and more than 30 airport economic reports, mirrors a similar CAC study from 2016, offering a direct comparison of industry growth over time. Key national-level findings include: Total employment supported by airport activity increased 22.8% from 2016. Total annual wages rose by 49.5%, to $32.9 billion. Total GDP linked to airports reached $49.6 billion. Annual economic output grew 56.3% over 2016 levels. "This growth is a testament to the resilience of the aviation sector and its vital role in connecting Canadians, supporting local businesses and enabling trade," added Pasher. "As we look ahead, continued investment in airport infrastructure and policies that support sustainable growth are essential." While the pandemic brought disruption to the aviation industry, the latest data shows that Canada's airports have staged a strong recovery. Passenger levels are once again approaching pre-pandemic highs and the movement of goods by air has grown substantially, reflecting renewed confidence in global trade and travel. The study also emphasizes the interconnected nature of airport-driven economic activity, where jobs at airports help sustain a wider ecosystem of employment in sectors such as tourism, logistics and manufacturing. "This study gives policymakers a clear view of the outsized economic impact airports deliver every day," Pasher concluded. "With the right support, airports can do even more to drive job creation, trade, tourism and long-term prosperity." While large Canadian airports have rebounded strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic, some face development pressure that could imperil needed growth. Meanwhile, many smaller regional and remote airports continue to face reduced flight frequencies and weakened connectivity. This decline carries real economic consequences. Regional air service is often a community's only link to essential services, trade routes and economic opportunity. According to the report, a single regional flight can support up to 210 jobs and generate $41.2 million in economic output. Ensuring reliable air service to these areas is critical to safeguarding local economies and making the benefits of aviation accessible to all Canadians. The full economic impact study is available at The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada's airports community. Its 60 members represent more than 100 airports, including all of the privately-operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports across Canada.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Study Reveals Canadian Airports Generate $123.5 Billion in Annual Economic Output and Support Nearly 436,000 Jobs
OTTAWA, ON, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) has released the findings of a new economic impact study showing the significant contribution of Canada's airports to the national economy. The study highlights that 61 airports across the country supported 435,800 full-time jobs, paid $32.9 billion in annual wages, contributed $49.6 billion to GDP and generated a total economic output of $123.5 billion in 2024. "At a time of global uncertainty and economic change, this report reaffirms what our members and communities have long understood: Airports are not only essential transportation hubs but also powerful economic engines," said Monette Pasher, President of the CAC. "They are essential to ensuring that Canada remains connected, competitive and ready to meet the challenges of a shifting global environment." The study, developed using an updated economic model based on Statistics Canada data and more than 30 airport economic reports, mirrors a similar CAC study from 2016, offering a direct comparison of industry growth over time. Key national-level findings include: Total employment supported by airport activity increased 22.8% from 2016. Total annual wages rose by 49.5%, to $32.9 billion. Total GDP linked to airports reached $49.6 billion. Annual economic output grew 56.3% over 2016 levels. "This growth is a testament to the resilience of the aviation sector and its vital role in connecting Canadians, supporting local businesses and enabling trade," added Pasher. "As we look ahead, continued investment in airport infrastructure and policies that support sustainable growth are essential." While the pandemic brought disruption to the aviation industry, the latest data shows that Canada's airports have staged a strong recovery. Passenger levels are once again approaching pre-pandemic highs and the movement of goods by air has grown substantially, reflecting renewed confidence in global trade and travel. The study also emphasizes the interconnected nature of airport-driven economic activity, where jobs at airports help sustain a wider ecosystem of employment in sectors such as tourism, logistics and manufacturing. "This study gives policymakers a clear view of the outsized economic impact airports deliver every day," Pasher concluded. "With the right support, airports can do even more to drive job creation, trade, tourism and long-term prosperity." While large Canadian airports have rebounded strongly since the COVID-19 pandemic, some face development pressure that could imperil needed growth. Meanwhile, many smaller regional and remote airports continue to face reduced flight frequencies and weakened connectivity. This decline carries real economic consequences. Regional air service is often a community's only link to essential services, trade routes and economic opportunity. According to the report, a single regional flight can support up to 210 jobs and generate $41.2 million in economic output. Ensuring reliable air service to these areas is critical to safeguarding local economies and making the benefits of aviation accessible to all Canadians. The full economic impact study is available at About the Canadian Airports Council The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada's airports community. Its 60 members represent more than 100 airports, including all of the privately-operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and many municipal airports across Canada. Canada's airports support 435,800 jobs, provide $32.9 billion in annual wages, generate $49.6 billion in GDP and produce $123.5 billion of annual economic output. SOURCE Canadian Airports Council View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
