Vancouver International Airport has been given the green light to participate in Canada’s international air cargo transshipment programme by the Federal government. The programme simplifies air carrier access to the airport for air cargo transshipment, allowing the airport to seek new market opportunities and increase its transshipment activity.
The programme allows air cargo to be moved through Canada for shipment to third countries. For example, cargo could be fl own from the US into Vancouver, stored temporarily, and then fl own to an Asian destination. Similarly, international air cargo could also arrive from overseas and then be shipped by rail or road from Vancouver to the US, allowing the airport to take full advantage of the Asia-Pacificgateway and corridor.
"One of the key goals of the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative is to make our West Coast ports and airports a destination of choice worshippers that take goods back and forth between Asia and North America," said Canada’s Minister of International Trade, David Emerson.
"With this new transshipment capacity, the Vancouver International Airport is moving one step further toward becoming a true transportation and logistics hub for the whole North American market," he added.
Importantly, the Canadian Transportation Agency can authorise any Canadian or foreign air carrier to use Vancouver International Airport to transship international air cargo, even if these rights are not provided in Canada’s bilateral air transport agreements.