WASHINGTON and OTTAWA – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today issued the following statement following the first bilateral meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“The longstanding relationship between Canada and the United States is an important economic driver for both countries. For decades, our airports, airlines, and governments have worked together to find new ways to steadily improve the cross-border flow of travelers and goods. We welcome the renewed commitment from President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau to further strengthen our historic bilateral relationship with the new “United States/Canada Partnership Roadmap” and our continent’s leadership around the world in the areas of health, safety, security, and sustainability.

“The health, safety, and security of the traveling public and airport workers is an airport’s top priority. Since the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, airports on both sides of the border have taken proactive steps to help ensure the health and safety of passengers and airport workers. U.S. and Canadian airports continue to collaborate with government, airline and other industry stakeholders on the best approaches and lessons learned to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

“As we look to the future, the major hurdle of safely and securely reopening our border to travel remains a top concern for North American airports. In 2019, more than 32.6 million passengers flew between the United States and Canada.  That number dropped to just 7.1 million in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and the border closure instituted in March 2020. We look forward to working with President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau to resume the flow of people and commerce between our two nations.”

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