In response to the economic chaos prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau highlighting the utility of the country’s $12.1 billion business aviation sector during these trying times and requesting relief measures from the government.

Among the slate of suggestions: that the government rejects any additional taxes on any type of aircraft (i.e. the proposed 10 percent “luxury tax”), as business aircraft are a critical transportation asset that supports Canadian essential travel; a suspension of airport headlease rent payments, conditional upon such reductions being passed directly to on-field operators across the nation; a payroll credit equivalent to half of pilot and cabin crew training expenses for newly-registered Canadian aircraft, to spur new aircraft acquisitions once the pandemic has passed; a temporary suspension of all federal and carbon taxes on jet fuel; federal financial assistance for air navigation charges incurred for essential and repatriation flights during this pandemic period; and that the government should pause all regulatory implementation and consultation processes that are not related to the pandemic.

Looking ahead, CBAA suggests that the government offer stimulus programs to encourage the purchase and use of business aircraft and services, which would benefit Canadian employers such as Bombardier, CAE, and Pratt & Whitney Canada, as well as hundreds of other smaller business aviation companies.