OTTAWA, Ont. — The Greater Moncton International Airport has received approval 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 the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “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 US 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 US.

“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 and 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.