The Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) helps eligible airports pay for capital projects to maintain and improve safety. Any owner or operator of an eligible airport may apply for funding.
On this page
- Criteria for funding levels
- After you apply
- Requirements if your project is approved
- How you will receive payments
- If a review is needed
Criteria for funding levels
Funding depends on the amount of airport activity. The criteria is the average number of scheduled commercial passengers for the last 3 calendar years, based on data from Statistics Canada. We verify these statistics on all applications.
| Year-round regularly scheduled commercial passengers | Percentage of ACAP funding |
|---|---|
| 1,000 to 49,999 | 100% |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 95% |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 90% |
| 100,000 to 124,999 | 85% |
| 125,000 to 149,999 | 80% |
| 150,000 to 174,999 | 75% |
| 175,000 to 199,999 | 70% |
| 200,000 to 224,999 | 65% |
| 225,000 to 249,999 | 60% |
| 250,000 to 274,999 | 55% |
| 275,000 to 299,999 | 50% |
| 300,000 to 324,999 | 45% |
| 325,000 to 349,999 | 40% |
| 350,000 to 374,999 | 35% |
| 375,000 to 399,999 | 30% |
| 400,000 to 424,999 | 25% |
| 425,000 to 449,999 | 20% |
| 450,000 to 474,999 | 15% |
| 475,000 to 499,999 | 10% |
| 500,000 to 524,999 | 5% |
| More than 525,000 | 0% |
We will pay at least 85% of approved project costs for airports north of the 60th parallel.
After you apply
We’ll update you on the status of your application by email.
Please note that we may ask for financial reports for the airport’s last 3 calendar years.
We may also ask for more information after completing a technical review of your application.
Requirements if your project is approved
If your project is approved for funding, we’ll send you a contribution agreement to sign. It will tell you the:
- nature and scope of the agreement
- maximum amount the program will pay towards your project
- conditions you must follow
How you will receive payments
The contribution agreement requires you to have a competitive tender process. We may ask to review any tender documents, as stated in the agreement’s audit and evaluation section.
For airside rehabilitation and air terminal rehabilitation projects, we’ll:
- provide funds for eligible project costs you incur and pay, based on invoices or proof of payment, and
- hold back at least 10% of the funds until we receive proof that you’ve fully met the terms of the contribution agreement
For mobile equipment projects:
- Final payments are issued following competitive tender and contract award
- Amounts paid are up to the maximum allowed amount for equipment, plus eligible taxes and shipping
- Costs for optional equipment or accessories that exceed the maximum allowed amount will be your responsibility
If a review is needed
We may contact you for more information if we decide an environmental review is required under the Impact Assessment Act.
We’ll review your project at an early stage to find out if it could negatively affect an Indigenous or treaty right, and will offer you guidance if a consultation is required.