Canada's airports are working to help airlines through their economic crunch. With most major airlines in turmoil due to the high cost of fuel - Air Canada says fuel is its single largest expense item, accounting for more than 30 per cent of operating expenses - airports are trying to deal carriers a helping hand.
Stating that it recognizes the problems facing airlines is an industry-wide crisis, Ottawa International Airport reduced its general terminal fees by five per cent as of July 1. Others, like Edmonton International Airport, are holding the line on fees. Edmonton is also asking its provincial government to remove the fuel-excise tax from domestic flights, a move that it says would save $11 million for Canadian carriers. Alberta has already eliminated the tax for trans-border and international flights.
At Vancouver International Airport, officials are working with airlines to improve efficiencies, including more self-service check-ins and self-service baggage tagging. Expansion at the airport will consolidate the number of baggage systems, in turn reducing costs for Air Canada as well as centralizing the airline's operation into one section to provide more efficiencies.
Vancouver also lowered its landing fees in 2007 and has committed to not increasing them until 2011.
In Winnipeg, a new central de-icing facility this winter will translate into lower costs for airlines, as each will no longer have to maintain their own de-icing equipment and supplies. The Winnipeg airport authority is holding the line on the rising fuel costs it faces for services like cleaning and plowing runways. It says it's absorbing those types of costs and trying to find ways to become more productive.
- Laura Severs
