Regional airports play a critical role in connecting communities, supporting tourism, enabling emergency response, and helping businesses move people and goods across Canada. However, many local and regional airports face ongoing challenges when it comes to maintaining critical infrastructure, replacing aging equipment, and completing safety-related capital upgrades.
To help address these needs, Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) provides funding to support eligible airport projects that improve regional airport safety, protect airport assets, and reduce operating costs.
Program Overview
The Airports Capital Assistance Program is a federal funding program delivered by Transport Canada. Since its launch in 1995, the Government of Canada has invested more than $1.25 billion through ACAP to support over 1,200 projects at local, regional, and National Airports System airports across the country.
The program is designed to support capital projects that help eligible airports maintain safe operations and protect essential infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, aprons, lighting systems, emergency response equipment, snow removal equipment, and terminal safety upgrades.
Funding Information
ACAP funding is calculated based on cost-sharing percentages tied to an airport’s average scheduled commercial passenger volume over the last three calendar years.
Eligible airports may receive up to 100% of eligible project costs, depending on passenger volume. Airports with lower scheduled passenger volumes may qualify for higher levels of funding, while airports with higher passenger volumes are subject to lower cost-share percentages.
This makes ACAP a valuable opportunity for eligible airport authorities to offset the cost of critical safety-related capital projects that may otherwise place a significant burden on local operating budgets.
Eligible Airports
Airport authorities may be eligible for ACAP funding if the airport they operate meets the program’s eligibility criteria.
Eligible airports must generally:
• Not be owned and operated by the Government of Canada
• Meet federal certification requirements
• Offer year-round scheduled commercial passenger services
• Serve a minimum of 1,000 passengers per year
• Serve fewer than 525,000 passengers per year
BDO’s airport authority clients may qualify for funding if the airport they operate meets ACAP’s eligibility criteria and the proposed project aligns with the program’s eligible safety-related project categories.
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects must align with one of ACAP’s priority areas.
Priority 1: Airside Facilities and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Equipment
This category supports projects that rehabilitate critical airside infrastructure or acquire equipment needed for aircraft rescue and firefighting operations.
Eligible projects may include:
• Runways, taxiways, and aprons
• Runway, taxiway, and apron lighting
• Visual aids
• Sand storage sheds
• Aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles and equipment
• Aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment shelters
Priority 2: Heavy Mobile Equipment
This category supports the purchase of heavy mobile equipment used to maintain safe airport operations, particularly during winter conditions.
Eligible projects may include:
• Runway snow blowers
• Runway snowplows
• Runway sweepers and spreaders
• Winter friction testing devices
• Mobile equipment shelters
Priority 3: Air Terminal Safety Improvements
This category supports safety-related improvements to air terminal buildings and groundside infrastructure.
Eligible projects may include:
• Sprinkler system improvements
• Asbestos removal
• Barrier-free access upgrades
Why This Program Matters
For local and regional airports, safety-related infrastructure investments are often essential but costly. Runway rehabilitation, snow removal equipment, lighting upgrades, and emergency response assets can represent major capital expenditures, especially for airports serving smaller passenger volumes.
ACAP helps reduce this financial burden by supporting projects that maintain and improve safety for the travelling public. The program also helps preserve airport infrastructure that is vital to regional economies, emergency preparedness, tourism, workforce mobility, and community connectivity.
For airport authorities with upcoming infrastructure needs, ACAP may provide an important opportunity to advance eligible projects while reducing the overall cost to the organization.
How BDO GrantMatch Can Help
BDO GrantMatch helps organizations identify, assess, and secure government funding opportunities that align with their capital projects and strategic priorities.
For airport authorities, our team can support the ACAP application process by helping to:
• Assess project and applicant eligibility
• Confirm alignment with ACAP priority areas
• Identify eligible costs and funding potential
• Prepare and organize application materials
• Develop a strong funding narrative
• Support submission requirements and documentation
If your airport is planning safety-related infrastructure upgrades, heavy mobile equipment purchases, or terminal safety improvements, BDO GrantMatch can help determine whether ACAP may be a fit for your project.
Explore Funding for Your Airport Capital Project
Eligible airport authorities should review upcoming capital plans to identify projects that may align with ACAP’s funding priorities. With support available for critical safety-related infrastructure and equipment, this program can help airports move forward with essential upgrades while reducing financial pressure on local operations.
