Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport to be even more competitive
Québec City, June 8, 2016 – Aéroport de Québec inc. (AQi) welcomes the Québec government's newly tabled Bill 109, which, in addition to granting the City of Québec new powers in its role as capital city, modernizes the airport authority's Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) system to align with practices elsewhere in the country.
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport competes with other Canadian airports that have payment systems based on the number of passengers. For comparison purposes, AQi's payments in lieu of taxes per passenger are 669% greater than those paid by the Halifax airport, even though AQi has half the passenger traffic.
"The unfavorable formula we face with payments in lieu of taxes is incompatible with the growth we're seeking at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport," explained AQi president and CEO Gaëtan Gagné. "This situation has prevented us from going toe-to-toe with other airports."
Today Québec premier Philippe Couillard announced with ministers Martin Coiteux and François Blais that the government was putting things back on an equal footing to boost the airport's competitiveness at a time when the organization is investing heavily in its facilities to bolster its status as a world-class airport.
"I would like to thank the premier, Philippe Couillard, ministers Martin Coiteux and François, and the caucus members from the Capitale-Nationale region who understood that this difficult situation needed to be rectified," said Mr. Gagné. "I am also thrilled for Québec City's mayor, Régis Labeaume, whose new powers will help the city fully assume its role as capital. Together, these actions will spur substantial development throughout the greater Québec City area."
About Aéroport de Québec inc. (AQi)
Since November 1, 2000, Aéroport de Québec inc., a privately held company, has been responsible for the management, operation, maintenance, and development of Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport. Over ten carriers offer multiple connections to various destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe, with daily service to major hubs in northeastern North America.
Web: www.yqb2018.com
Tel.: 418-640-2700, ext. 2625