The designation of international airports in Canada
LOCATION: NATIONAL
Issue/Source: guidance material issued by transport canada regarding icao convention obligation and Media coverage
Date: MARCH 22, 2021
Suggested ResponseS
- Transport Canada is responsible for regulating aviation safety in Canada and its adherence to international standards.
- In January, Transport Canada informed all Canadian airports of the requirements to be designated an ‘international airport’.
- The designation of international airport is an obligation in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Convention, which requires States to designate only those airports that provide certain services, such as customs, immigration, firefighting and law enforcement, as ‘international airports’.
- The guidance issued by Transport Canada does not preclude an airport from supporting international flights but the airport would need to meet the necessary requirements.
- Transport Canada will continue to consult with industry on this topic.
IF PRESSED
- The international designation advisory is unrelated to the current aeronautical studies being conducted by NAV CANADA regarding the level of service at several Canadian airports.
- Transport Canada consulted Canadian airport stakeholders on the draft guidance material in the Summer of 2020. Since the publication of the advisory, the Department has also met with several stakeholders: the Canadian Airports Council, the Regional Community Airports of Canada and senior officials at the airports.
- to Transport Canada’s knowledge, there is no significant investment required, for those airports the size of Regina or Saskatoon to meet the ‘international’ specifications.
- The Department is aware that Regina Airport intends to submit their documentation to obtain international designation, which will be reviewed by Transport Canada.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- Transport Canada’s Aviation Circular (AC) regarding the designation of international airports in Canada was revised and published in January 2021.
- This revision was deemed necessary following an issue brought to Transport Canada’s (TC) attention by NAV CANADA.
- A request was made by a small aerodrome (Tottenham-Ronan, ON) to be published as ‘International’ in aeronautical publications (like the Canada Flight Supplement for example, which is used to detail to the aeronautical community the technical specifications and services offered at a given airport).
- The aerodrome at Tottenham-Ronan has one 2,000 ft grass air strip and does not have any of the services associated with an international airport (e.g. customs, immigration, firefighting, emergency plans).
- An informal review performed by TC and NAV CANADA uncovered that several other very small airports who do not meet the requirements of an international designation.
- The designation of international airport is a state obligation under the ICAO convention, which specifies the requirement for the State to designate international airports to provide certain services. These services include identifing those international airports to international air operators and other users through the aeronautical publications.
- The purpose of the AC is to update the TC database, clarify the use of the term International, and to ensure airports that were published as International in the aeronautical publications indeed met the requirements in accordance with the ICAO convention.
- This does not preclude an airport from using the word International in its corporate name. That said, only airports designated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation as “International” may use “INTL” or “International” in the airport header name as published in aeronautical publications. This is to make the airport readily identifiable to users as international, providing the facilities and services expected from a designated international airport.
- Further, besides the current COVID-19 restrictions of international flights and low demand given the existing travel advisory, a lack of international designation does not preclude an airport from supporting international flights. An airport can always make specific arrangements with the appropriate agencies (Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), TC, etc.) to support flights from foreign countries. In fact, Regina, Saskatoon and Victoria for example, offered seasonal international flights in the past.
- The AC does not cover transborder flights. Furthermore, CBSA may offer services to an airport, even if it is not designated international.
Stakeholder Consultation:
- Prior to issuing the AC, TC consulted with external stakeholders. Comments were received from a number of stakeholders (Canadian Airports Council, Regional Community Airports of Canada, Réseau Québécois des Aéroports , NAV CANADA). Comments received were of an editorial nature or seeking clarification.
- Since publication of the AC, TC has briefed several stakeholders: the Canadian Airports Council, the Regional Community Airports of Canada and senior officials at the Regina Airport, as well as regional aerodrome inspectors.
- At this time, TC is not aware of particular difficulties for mid-size airports to comply with the specifications identified in the AC.