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Canada's airports are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by groups representing government, local business, and community interests. The country's airports are responsible for both operational and capital costs associated with operating, maintaining, and growing airports. There are 21 airport authorities designated by the Airport Transfer (Miscellaneous Matters) Act, and each airport authority leases its airport(s) from the federal government. Notably, Transport Canada owns and leases airports to local authorities, except for three territorial capitals. The three territorial airports are owned by their respective territorial governments, except for Iqaluit Airport, which is operated by Nunavut Airport Services, a subsidiary of Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Airports in Canada are typically publicly owned, with some exceptions. |
| Public ownership | The federal government owns airports through Transport Canada, which leases them to local authorities. The National Airports System (NAS) includes all airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving capitals. |
| NAS ownership | Transport Canada owns 23 NAS airports, except for the three territorial capitals. |
| Territorial capital ownership | The territorial governments own the three territorial airports. Iqaluit Airport is an exception, operated by Nunavut Airport Services, a subsidiary of Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation, which is under the Winnipeg Airports Authority. |
| Private ownership | Some airports are privately owned, such as Abbotsford Airport, owned by the City of Abbotsford, and Waterloo Airport, owned by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. |
| Operational responsibility | Airport authorities are responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the airports they lease from the federal government. |
| Funding | Airports are funded by aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue sources, with AIF making up the difference for large infrastructure projects. Airports also reinvest all financial surpluses back into infrastructure. |
| Accountability | Airports are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by government and community interest groups. |
| Rent | The federal government collects up to 12% of airport gross revenues as rent from privately-operated airport authorities. |
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What You'll Learn
Transport Canada owns 23 airports
Transport Canada owns and operates 23 airports across the country, which are leased to Canadian airport authorities. These airports are part of the National Airports System (NAS), which includes all airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving national, provincial, and territorial capitals.
The NAS was established in 1994 through the National Airports Policy, which aimed to privatize or privately operate most of Canada's airports. However, despite this policy, Transport Canada still owns a significant number of airports.
The 23 airports owned by Transport Canada are leased to 21 airport authorities, with Mirabel and Montreal Trudeau airports being operated by the same authority. The City of Kelowna operates Kelowna Airport under a long-term lease, making it the only airport on the list not operated by an airport authority.
It is important to note that the three territorial capital airports, including Iqaluit Airport, are not owned by Transport Canada. Iqaluit Airport is operated by Nunavut Airport Services Limited (NASL), a subsidiary of Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation, which is under the Winnipeg Airports Authority.
The airport authorities that lease from the federal government are responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the airports according to the terms of their leases. These authorities are private, not-for-profit, non-share capital corporations, incorporated under various acts, including the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.
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Three territorial airports are owned by their governments
Canada's airports are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by groups representing levels of government and local business and community interests. While most airports in the National Airports System are owned by Transport Canada and leased to local authorities, there are three territorial airports owned and operated by their respective territorial governments. These are the airports serving the territorial capitals.
The Iqaluit Airport is an exception, as it is operated by Nunavut Airport Services Limited (NASL), a subsidiary of WASCO (Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation), which is itself a subsidiary of the Winnipeg Airports Authority. The Winnipeg Airports Authority is a private entity, and the head of this authority has the power to make decisions such as banning certain passengers from entering the airport.
The other two territorial airports that are owned by their governments are not explicitly named in the sources. However, it is clear that these airports are an important part of Canada's aviation infrastructure, with Transport Canada providing services and setting standards for performance at these airports.
The National Airports Policy, implemented during the 1990s, has resulted in the privatization or private operation of nearly all of Canada's airports. This has led to increased airport fees and challenges in meeting infrastructure requirements. Despite this, Canada has built the world's best air transportation infrastructure, according to the World Economic Forum Report on Travel and Tourism Competitiveness.
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The Winnipeg Airports Authority owns several airports
In Canada, airports are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by groups representing levels of government, local business, and community interests. The federal government collects up to 12% of airport gross revenues in rent from the 21 privately operated airport authorities.
The Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) is one such airport authority that owns and operates the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The airport is also commonly referred to as the Winnipeg International Airport or simply Winnipeg Airport. It is the seventh busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, serving 4,297,478 passengers in 2024, and is an important transportation hub within the province of Manitoba. The airport is a hub for Calm Air, Perimeter Airlines, and cargo airline Cargojet, and also serves as a focus city for WestJet and an operating base for Flair Airlines.
The WAA is made up of three subsidiaries, including YWG Inc., which operates the YWG airport. The WAA's mission is to connect communities and enable the safe and seamless movement of people and goods through its airport facilities. It aims to improve community relations, boost economic and social development opportunities, and increase overall satisfaction. The WAA has developed a system to provide up-to-date flight information on its website, allowing users to bookmark, save, or share their flight information and receive notifications of any changes. Additionally, the WAA has created an interactive venue map to help users quickly connect with the services, facilities, shops, and food vendors within the airport.
The WAA also owns and operates the Iqaluit Airport through its subsidiary, Nunavut Airport Services, which is a subsidiary of Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation.
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Airports are locally accountable
Canada's airports are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by groups representing government, local business, and community interests. Canada's airports are responsible for both operational and capital costs associated with operating, maintaining, and growing airports. This includes the costs of runways, air terminal buildings, and baggage handling facilities. Airports in Canada are not-for-profit entities, ensuring that all financial surpluses are reinvested into improving the airport and the communities they serve.
Canada's airport model is based on the principle that direct users of the airports, rather than taxpayers, should shoulder the majority of the costs of air transport. This approach has allowed airports to reduce their reliance on aeronautical income by diversifying their revenue streams through new retail, dining, and beverage options for travellers. Airports in Canada are also unique in that they pay the federal government rent, with the government collecting up to 12% of airport gross revenues. In 2019, airports paid $419 million in federal rent, totalling over $6.5 billion since 1992.
The National Airports System (NAS) in Canada includes all airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving national, provincial, and territorial capitals. With the exception of the three territorial capitals, NAS airports are owned by Transport Canada and leased to local authorities. The three territorial airports are owned by their respective territorial governments, except for Iqaluit Airport, which is operated by Nunavut Airport Services, a subsidiary of the Winnipeg Airports Authority.
While most Canadian airports are publicly owned, there are some notable exceptions. For instance, the City of Abbotsford owns Abbotsford Airport, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo owns Waterloo Airport, and PortsToronto owns Toronto-Bishop Airport. Additionally, the Winnipeg Airports Authority privately owns the Winnipeg Airport.
The local accountability of Canadian airports ensures that they are well-integrated into the communities they serve and are responsive to the needs of their users and local businesses. This model has contributed to Canada's reputation for having the world's best air transportation infrastructure, offering both high levels of comfort and safety for travellers.
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Airports are run on a not-for-profit basis
Canada's airports are run on a not-for-profit basis. This means that any financial surpluses are reinvested into the airport and the communities they serve, rather than being paid out to shareholders. Airports in Canada are locally accountable, with boards of directors nominated by local government and business groups, as well as community interest groups.
The majority of Canadian airports are owned by Transport Canada and leased to local airport authorities. These airport authorities are private, non-share-capital corporations. The federal government collects up to 12% of airport gross revenues in rent, which is more than $6.5 billion since 1992. This is a unique model, where direct users, not taxpayers, shoulder the costs of air transport. Airports generate revenue from aeronautical and non-aeronautical sources, as well as airport improvement fees (AIF).
The three territorial airports are owned by their respective territorial governments, except for Iqaluit Airport, which is operated by Nunavut Airport Services, a subsidiary of Winnipeg Airport Services Corporation. There are also some airports that are owned by municipalities, such as Abbotsford Airport, owned by the City of Abbotsford, and Waterloo Airport, owned by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
Canada's airport model has been praised for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, with airports investing over $30 billion into infrastructure improvements since the early 1990s. However, some critics argue that selling airports to for-profit owners could bring efficiency gains, although this would likely result in higher fees for passengers.
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Frequently asked questions
Transport Canada owns the National Airports System, which includes all airports with an annual traffic of 200,000 passengers or more, as well as airports serving national, provincial, and territorial capitals. There are 23 airports owned by Transport Canada and leased to Canadian airport authorities.
Yes, there are some airports in Canada that are not owned by Transport Canada. For example, Abbotsford Airport is owned by the City of Abbotsford, and Waterloo Airport is owned by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
Yes, privately-owned airports do exist in Canada, but they are the exception rather than the rule. For example, the Winnipeg Airports Authority owns the Winnipeg Airport.
The National Airports Policy is a program of the Canadian government that began in the 1990s and involves the privatization or private operation of nearly all of the country's airports. This policy has been controversial due to increased airport fees and the inability of airports to meet infrastructure requirements.
Canadian airports are funded through aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue sources, such as revenue from the Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). Airports are also diversifying their revenues by adding new retail, dining, and beverage options for travellers. Additionally, the federal government collects up to 12% of airport gross revenues as rent from privately-operated airport authorities.
