The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed disappointment at the lack of positive measures to strengthen and enhance Canada’s air transport system and global competitiveness in the country’s 2023 Federal Budget.
“IATA was hopeful that the Federal Budget would include measures to support the recommendations from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Unfortunately that was not the case,” wrote Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, in a letter to Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and to the Minister of Transport.
In his letter, Walsh welcomed the proposal to provide CAD $1.8 billion over five years to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to maintain and increase its level of service, reduce passenger screening wait times and strengthen security measures at airports.
“However this has come with a proposed 33% increase in the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC). This makes air travel even less affordable for all Canadians,” wrote Walsh.
Walsh also expressed concern over the proposal to strengthen the authority of the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) and make airlines more accountable for service failures and disruptions regardless of who is at fault.
“We strongly encourage the Government to share these accountabilities across all components of the commercial air system involved in supporting smooth airline operations and a positive traveler experience. These includes airlines, airports, CATSA, CBSA and Nav Canada.” Walsh pointed out that imposing a regulatory charge on airlines to recover the costs of dealing with passenger complaints adds to the high cost burden of airlines operating in Canada.
IATA's position on sharing responsibility for - and the costs of - air service disruptions echoes Canada's airlines, notably WestJet, whose CEO has made the subject a recurring theme in a number of speeches and statements since this year, as Open Jaw has reported.
In its own media release about the letter it sent to the Canadian government following the release of the budget, IATA's Walsh also urged the Canadian Government to support the aviation industry’s efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He called on the Government to open immediate consultations with the industry on the CAD $15 billion in funds meant to incentivize alternative fuel development in Canada.
Walsh emphasized that a healthy, sustainable aviation sector makes a CAD $51.4 billion contribution to the country’s GDP (pre-COVID figures) and supported approximately 633,000 jobs.
“Commercial aviation is a powerful economic engine for Canada. We urge the Government of Canada to take steps to remove barriers to the continued growth of this sector, and make it more competitive globally,” wrote Walsh.
