Aviation

QSA's Week in Aviation (#13, 2025)

CBSA seizes 148 kg meth at Vancouver airport; Snowbirds reminded of US tariffs; CBSA charges in illegal import case.

Good morning! Welcome back to Queen Street Analytics' weekly roundup of regulatory developments, legislative discussions, political announcements and other government-related news for the airline and airports industry, as well as pilots and other aviation-professionals.

Every Monday, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Start Date: 2025-03-30
End Date: 2025-04-05

Top Headlines

Main Stories

Screened Passenger Traffic at Canadian Airports Rises

StatsCan reported that 4.2 million passengers passed through pre-board security at Canada's major airports in February 2025. This marks a 0.4% increase from February 2024 and is close to the pre-pandemic level of February 2020, indicating a recovery in air travel.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

Weekly Aircraft Movements Data Available

New data on aircraft movements for March 15 to 21, 2025, is now accessible. This dataset provides insights into aviation traffic patterns and can be a valuable resource for industry analysis and strategic planning.

Sources: Open Government Data Set: www.statcan.gc.ca

CBSA Seizes 148 kg of Methamphetamine at Vancouver Airport

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced the seizure of 148.8 kilograms of methamphetamine at Vancouver International Airport. This was achieved over six separate incidents, with drugs concealed in luggage and destined for export to locations including Hong Kong and Australia. The estimated street value of the narcotics is $500,000, and arrests were made with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police taking custody of the individuals involved.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CBSA Investigation Leads to Charges for Prohibited Weapons

In Montreal, a CBSA investigation has resulted in charges against Alexis Savard for smuggling and possession of prohibited weapons and counterfeit money. The investigation, which began with the interception of a prohibited device by mail in 2023, uncovered files related to 3D-printed firearms. Charges were filed by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

CBSA Reminds Returning Snowbirds of Tariffs on Certain U.S. Goods

The CBSA has issued a reminder to Canadian snowbirds returning from the U.S. about tariffs on certain American goods. These tariffs are a response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian products, and a 25% surtax is applied to specific goods. Travelers are advised to be aware of personal exemptions and have receipts ready to facilitate border processing.

Sources: Announcements: www.canada.ca

Senator Tony Loffreda on Global Trade Partnerships

Senator Tony Loffreda emphasized the importance of diversifying Canada's international trade partnerships during his participation at AEROMART Montreal 2025.

Sources: Social Media: x.com

Senator Charles Adler on Deportation Flights

Senator Charles Adler shared an article about the experiences of deportation flight attendants, bringing attention to the human aspect of these operations.