Jan. 14, 2015
Canada’s business aviation sector generates C$5.4 billion (U.S. $4.6 billion) per year in total economic output, including C$3.1 billion directly tied to the sector’s operations, and supports nearly 24,000 jobs, according to a study commissioned by the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA).
The 2014 Economic Impact of Business Aviation in Canada study, conducted by InterVistas, estimated that Canada’s business aviation fleet consists of 1,900 aircraft, including about 450 helicopters.
Business aviation in Canada annually generates about C$800 million in direct wages from 11,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs. Indirect impacts, such as jobs at business jet manufacturers, account for another 8,000 FTEs and C$510 million in annual wages. Induced impact – which is generated by spending of those in the first two categories – supports another 4,000 FTEs and $220 million in wages, the study found.
“Business aviation has a sizable impact on the Canadian economy,” the study noted. “To put these impacts into context, the total impacts associated with business aviation in Canada are similar to the impacts of the Vancouver International Airport.”
Business aviation’s economic contribution also includes sizable tax revenue – such as employee payroll taxes and business property taxes – for the Canadian government, as well as its provinces and municipalities. InterVistas calculated that the sector contributes C$650 million annually to governments, 72 percent of which goes to the national government, and most of the rest to provinces and territories.
Business aviation operations in Canada vary widely. All 13 provinces and territories have at least some business aviation activity, but most is concentrated in the country’s four most populous provinces: Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia. The four combine to host 1,575 based business aircraft, or about 83 percent of the country’s total, the study showed.
As a country with a very large land mass, Canada presents unique opportunities for business aviation to support both companies and communities. For instance, telecommunications provider Telus uses three aircraft – two de Havilland DHC-2 Beavers and a Quest Kodiak – to support a network of 13.5 million customer connections.
The fleet averages about 60 flight hours per month and is often used to reach remote locations that are otherwise inaccessible, helping ensure the company’s Internet, mobile phone and television customers are always connected.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.