No. H014/06
For release April 20, 2006
OTTAWA — Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today launched an international air cargo
transshipment program at Edmonton International Airport. The new program
simplifies air carrier access to Edmonton for air cargo transshipment and
provides an additional incentive to use the airport's cargo facilities.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to announce the new transshipment
program. This program should provide the Edmonton International Airport
with an additional tool to help it develop its air cargo capacity, which
could lead to positive impacts on the local economy," said Mr. Cannon.
"Canada's transshipment program has been successful at other airports,
leading to an increase in cargo activity."
Transshipment allows air cargo to be moved through Canada for shipment to third
countries. For example, cargo could be flown from the United States into
Edmonton, stored temporarily, and then flown to a final European destination.
Cargo could also arrive from overseas and then be shipped by rail or road from
Edmonton to the United States.
Canadian and foreign air carriers will now be able to use Edmonton International
Airport to transship international 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.
The new program enables the Canadian Transportation Agency to authorize any
Canadian or foreign air carrier to use Edmonton International Airport as a
transshipment point for cargo coming from and destined for points outside
Canada. While in Edmonton, the cargo may also be stored until it is transported
to its final destination by air or other mode.
Similar transshipment programs were introduced at Mirabel (1982), Hamilton (1987),
Windsor (1993), Gander (2000), and Winnipeg (2004).
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Contact:
Lucie Vignola
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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