Airports Welcome US/Canada Border Accord

Posted 13/12/2011

Airports Council International North American (ACI-NA) and the Canadian Airports Council (CAC) have both welcomed the ‘Beyond the Border Action Plan’ announced by US President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper this week, as a good step forward in bi-national relations between Canada and the US, and ultimately a positive move for North American aviation.

“North America’s airports will see tremendous benefit from this new commitment to our Canada-US relationship,” said Greg Principato, President, ACI-NA.  “The border agencies of Canada and the US have a great track record of working together.  This accord reinforces this great work.”

Among the new measures announced were the planned elimination of baggage security rescreening requirements for Canadian originating bags at US airports by the Transportation Security Administration; expansion of US pre-clearance for cargo from Canada, and the expansion of Nexus benefits to travelers. Also included was a commitment “to identify and develop solutions to operational impediments to the effectiveness of US Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) pre-clearance operations at Canadian airports by June 2012.”  The subject of improved staffing levels at CBP has been a priority for Canadian airports for several years.

“The US is Canada’s biggest trading partner and Canada’s airports strive to make travel between Canada and the US as easy and hassle free as possible for business and leisure travelers alike,” said Bill Restall, Chairman, CAC.  “We hope the new accord will lead to more Canadians visiting the US, more Americans visiting Canada, and increased cross border trade for the benefit of both countries.”

The US CBP provides customs and border services to travellers departing for the US from eight Canadian airports that have US pre-clearance facilities.  However, travellers from other Canadian airports need to be cleared on arrival in the US and resources have not kept pace with the healthy growth in air traffic between the two countries (up 4.5 per cent in first six months of 2011).

ACI-NA and the CAC have been long-time proponents of initiatives that ease the facilitation of passengers and goods at the Canada-US air border from CBP and the Canada Border Services Agency, including technology-based trusted traveler programs like Nexus and Global Entry.

“Canada and the US enjoy an important longstanding relationship,” said Daniel-Robert Gooch, President, CAC.  “Our airports welcome initiatives that ultimately make the experience of travelling between Canada and the US easier and more hassle free.”

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