Canada’s Government Explores Airport Privatization

Canada’s government is considering some form of airport privatization, potentially moving away from a system in place for more than 30 years in which local authorities manage 23 federally owned airports.

In its 2026 Spring Economic Update document, the Liberal Party-controlled government said it is exploring options regarding the management structure of airports owned by Transport Canada, which include Toronto Pearson, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal Trudeau and Vancouver.

In the annual spring report outlining Ottawa’s finance agenda, the federal government said it is "assessing opportunities to unlock the full value of airports in support of investments in Canada's long-term growth, including through alternative models of ownership. This work will be advanced with the input of the airport authorities and other stakeholders including airlines and local governments.”

The government said it seeking to ensure the "long-term stability of Canada's air sector" and "is committed to reforming Canada's airports system to lower air passenger costs and better position airports to attract private investment."

Canada’s largest airports are owned by the federal government, which in 1992 transferred management control to local non-share, not-for-profit airport authorities governed by seven-15-member boards of directors. Up to two members of each airport authority board are appointed by the federal government.

“Airport authorities are mandated to operate as self-sustaining businesses,” according to the Canadian Airports Council, which lobbies on behalf of the country's airports. “[The airport authorities] are equipped to respond to local economic needs and priorities through more business-like management practices."

Money raised from airline fees and other sources of revenue are reinvested in the airports by the airport authorities, while the federal government retains full ownership of facilities and land.

"The government has begun to consider reforms to modernize the governance of airport authorities, explore options to update the framework for airport rents and to increase the capacity of airports for economic development and reinvestment in infrastructure,” according to the Spring Economic Update.

Asked about potential airport privatization, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on May 6 that the government “will look at options for the airports so that they better serve Canadians and so that the capital that is tied up in those airports can be redeployed potentially in other ventures that will grow our economy.”