News
Greater Moncton International Airport approved for International air cargo transshipment program

Feb. 7, 2008, Ottawa – The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the approval of the
Greater Moncton International Airport to participate in the international air
cargo transshipment program. The program simplifies air carrier access to the
airport for air cargo transshipment, allowing the airport to seek new market
opportunities and further develop its air cargo transshipment activity.
       
"Our government is pleased to have the international air cargo
transshipment program in place," said Minister Cannon. "The Greater Moncton
International Airport now has an additional tool to help develop its air cargo
business, which will benefit the local economy."
       
The international air cargo transshipment program allows air cargo to be
moved through Canada for shipment to third countries. For example, cargo could
be flown from the United States into Moncton, stored temporarily, and then
flown to a European destination. Similarly, international air cargo could also
arrive from overseas and then be shipped by rail or road from Moncton to the
United States.
       
"Our economy and our standard of living still depend heavily on exports
and imports. Last year alone we exported $458 billion worth of merchandise and
imported another $404 billion," said the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of
Veterans Affairs and Minister responsible for New Brunswick. "This
announcement we are making today is another signal to our trading partners
that Canada is open for business. This program will improve the flow of goods
and provide major economic benefits to the Greater Moncton area and the rest
of the country."
       
"We are extremely pleased that the Canadian Government and in particular,
Transport Canada, has recognized the Greater Moncton International Airport as
an official air cargo transshipment centre," said Rob Robichaud, President &
CEO of Greater Moncton International Airport. "This announcement supports our
goal of growing our air cargo presence internationally. We thank all levels of
government and our many public and private sector partners for supporting the
Greater Moncton International Airport with this very important initiative."
       
The program enables the Canadian Transportation Agency to authorize any
Canadian or foreign air carrier to use Greater Moncton International Airport
to transship international air cargo, even if these rights are not provided in
Canada's bilateral air transport agreements. In addition, air carriers will be
able to combine such cargo transshipments with other services for which they
may be licensed.
       
Cargo security is addressed during the application process, and on an
ongoing basis, in the context of broader security monitoring by Transport
Canada and the operational activities of the Canada Border Services Agency.

The international air cargo transshipment program was introduced in 1982
at Mirabel Airport as part of a larger effort to improve the use of Montreal
area airports. It has since been expanded to other airports, including
Hamilton (1987), Windsor (1993), Gander (2000), Winnipeg (2004), Edmonton
(2006) and Calgary (2007). The program is also being introduced at the
Vancouver International Airport and at the Abbotsford International Airport.
       
During the course of its international air policy review, Transport
Canada determined that Canadian airports should be given the freedom to
attract cargo transshipment activity where there are market opportunities, in
line with its new market-oriented Blue Sky international air policy.