(HALIFAX) June 24, 2020 – Management of Atlantic Canada’s airports fully support the announcement by Atlantic Canada’s premiers of an Atlantic region travel bubble. After much assessment, discussion and planning, Atlantic Canadians will be allowed to travel within the four Atlantic provinces this summer starting July 3 without the need to self-isolate.

“This commitment by our premiers and public health officials is a breath of fresh air for residents and businesses alike in Atlantic Canada,” says Derrick Stanford, president of the Atlantic Canada Airports Association.

“And there’s no question that the potential positive economic impact with a rejuvenated tourism season is something to look forward to. Our season is short, so let’s get out there and make the most of it.”

Stanford is president and CEO of Saint John Airport. The Atlantic Canada Airports Association is an industry group representing twelve airports in the Atlantic provinces.

 

 

According to Monette Pasher, executive director of the association, inter-provincial air travel within Atlantic Canada accounted for about 15 percent of total passenger traffic through Atlantic Canada’s airports in 2019.

“Airports have a long way to go to recover financially from the havoc that COVID-19 has had on air travel,” says Pasher. “The action taken by our Atlantic premiers is a great start. It’s a crack in the door to reopening travel. We’re encouraged as it represents a first step in recovery for the travel and tourism industry in our region. We also look forward to travel restrictions being lifted for the rest of Canada, which represents our major travel markets to Atlantic Canada.”

Stanford says that airports will continue to follow enhanced health and safety guidelines and procedures that have been in place for some time for the protection of travellers and staff.

 

About the Atlantic Canada Airports Association

The ACAA represents 12 airports in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The region’s airports typically move over 8 million passengers and approximately 60,000 metric tons of cargo annually and account for more than 46,000 jobs in the region. Airports represented by the Atlantic Canada Airports Association are private, not-for-profit, non-share capital corporations where all revenue generated is reinvested in airport infrastructure. Atlantic Canada’s airports are significant economic generators with passenger and cargo traffic generating over $4.4 billion annually into the Atlantic Canada economy.

Media Inquiries

Monette Pasher, Executive Director, Atlantic Canada Airport Association
Cell: (902) 802-5651
Email: Monette@acairports.ca