Traveller costs must stay down in airport privatization plan: industry group

OTTAWA — The head of Canada's main airline industry group, Jeff Morrison, has expressed concerns about any plan for private investment in airports keeping costs for travelers down. Morrison, CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada, emphasized that more details are needed on the federal government's move to partially privatize airports before he can firmly support the idea, but affordability remains a top priority.

The Australian experience, where airports were handed over to private investors between 1997 and 2003, offers mixed results, with billions of dollars invested leading to faster baggage handling, passenger check-in processes, and more lounges. However, the four major Australian airports increased fees charged to carriers by 81% between 1997 and 2015, according to the country's competition watchdog.

Prime Minister Mark Carney recently stated his intention to allow private investors to manage Canada's four largest airports for set lease periods while the federal government retains oversight and ownership.