ICAO Canada Audit Highlights Regulatory Compliance, Not Aircraft Safety, Say Airlines and Government

Canadian airlines and government officials are emphasizing that the recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit of Transport Canada’s implementation of ICAO standards does not reflect on the safety of Canadian aircraft. The audit, disclosed by The Canadian Press, assigned Canada a score of 64 out of 100, raising concerns about aircraft operations, airports, and air navigation.

Contrary to the lower score, Transport Ministry spokeswoman Laura Scaffidi clarified, “ICAO has not identified any significant safety concerns with Canada’s civil aviation system, and we know our country’s air sector is among the safest in the world.”

In response to the audit findings, Air Canada issued a statement underlining that the assessment did not specifically target the safe operation of Canadian aircraft. The statement highlighted Air Canada’s rigorous internal safety processes, regularly evaluated and audited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The airline emphasized its compliance with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), considered the gold standard for airline safety.

WestJet, another major Canadian airline, echoed a similar sentiment, noting that the ICAO audit focused solely on Transport Canada and did not assess or reflect WestJet’s industry-leading safety standards.

Flair Airlines, while declining to comment on the audit, joined other carriers in emphasizing that the evaluation was directed at Transport Canada rather than individual airlines.

The ICAO audit recommends that the Transport Ministry establish processes to ensure full regulatory compliance by airlines and airports. It also suggests improvements in dangerous goods certification, training for air traffic controllers, and the implementation of fatigue management procedures. Despite the audit’s critical findings, Canadian authorities and airlines are emphasizing their commitment to maintaining the high safety standards of the country’s aviation sector.