The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is the federal authority responsible for aviation security screening at 89 designated airports across Canada. The organization fulfills a critical security mandate by ensuring the secure and efficient movement of people and goods across Canada’s air transportation network and internationally, contributing to economic growth and national security.
In the first half of 2025/26, 96.3% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to be screened at Class 1 airports and 90.4% of passengers surveyed reported a positive screening experience. CATSA expects to screen 74.5 million passengers in 2026/27, which represents a 4.8% increase from the forecasted 71.1 million passengers for 2025/26. It is anticipated that passenger traffic will increase further over the coming years, with 78.2 million projected in 2027/28, and reaching 89.4 million by 2030/31.
Over the next five years, CATSA will accelerate investments in technology and automation to provide more secure, efficient and cost-effective security screening services, while enhancing the overall experience for passengers. Transport Canada, as CATSA's regulator, plays a critical enabling role. CATSA collaborates with Transport Canada to secure regulatory approvals, seek appropriate regulatory relief measures, and validate innovative screening technologies.
In support of Canada’s domestic economy, approximately 90% of CATSA’s contracts are awarded to Canadian companies in the security and technology sectors. CATSA will continue to seek opportunities to increase this proportion where feasible.
CATSA recognizes the seriousness of cybersecurity threats and the significant impacts of cybersecurity incidents. Accordingly, the organization continuously strengthens and adapts its cybersecurity approach, and works closely with key government partners to prevent and attenuate these risks.
Given its important role in securing critical elements of Canada’s air transportation system, CATSA furthers several key federal priorities. These include building a stronger Canadian economy and enhancing security relationships; protecting Canada’s sovereignty and security; shifting from reliance to resilience; creating a more efficient and effective government; enhancing productivity through innovation and the use of artificial intelligence; delivering on Canada’s diversity, equity and inclusion values; promoting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples; ensuring an accessible, barrier-free workplace and superior security screening experience for travellers; and, putting environmental sustainability principles into practice.
CATSA operates under the guidance of its Strategic Plan, which serves as a roadmap to inform its key activities. Supported by four key pillars, the plan fosters an environment that upholds core values, and reflects a commitment to Protect, Innovate, and Elevate in delivering on the organization’s mandate and pursuing its mission and vision:
Promote an Integrated Aviation Ecosystem
CATSA will continue to leverage its strong collaboration with partners to drive a more integrated aviation industry and advance shared objectives, including the integration of technologies that enhance end-to-end experiences and the secure, seamless exchange of critical data. Key initiatives include deepening partner engagement and communication, and executing the Domestic Stakeholder Engagement Strategy to strengthen the collective impact across the aviation ecosystem.
Elevate the Client Experience
CATSA will further improve the passenger experience via streamlined processes, staff empowerment, and continuous improvement programs that raise satisfaction and operational efficiency at designated airports across the country. Key initiatives include maintaining an annual wait time service level where 95% of passengers wait less than 15 minutes to be screened (95/15) at Class 1 airports, advancing the Service Strategy, and undertaking initiatives with members of the broader community, including accessibility and diversity interest groups, and official language minority communities.
Drive Innovation
CATSA will augment security effectiveness and screening efficiency, and champion innovative solutions through a problem-solving mindset. It will do so by transitioning from basic automation to artificial intelligence-enabled operations, modernizing screening and biometrics systems, and enhancing secure data platforms to drive security and efficiency. Through an established governance framework, CATSA will ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence, supporting responsible decision-making and accountability. Key initiatives include continuing to test new technologies, such as artificial intelligence in our oversight programs, proceeding with the trial and rollout of new detection algorithms to enhance the effectiveness of current security screening equipment, adopting new technologies and best practices, while fostering an innovative culture. Building on its solid foundation of expertise, experience and collaboration, there is an opportunity to engage other industries where advances in computed tomography (CT) X-ray imaging technology directly complement aviation security screening.
Invest in Our People for Tomorrow
CATSA is building a future-ready workforce by attracting the skills required for tomorrow, strengthening leadership at all levels, and fostering an environment where talent is developed, retained, and empowered to grow. This includes advancing a flexible, diverse, inclusive and psychologically safe workplace that supports the well-being of employees. CATSA will also reinforce its commitment to both its internal workforce and third-party screening officer community by prioritizing modernized training, professional development, and capability-building programs that enable excellence in security, service and innovation.
Funding
As part of Budget 2023, CATSA received $1.7 billion in supplemental funding over three years, ending in fiscal year 2025/26. This three-year funding allowed the organization to exceed its wait time service levels while improving service to travellers and strengthening collaboration with key partners for the future of the aviation system in Canada. Predictable long-term funding will allow CATSA to continue investing in technology and partnerships to enhance security effectiveness, operational efficiencies and service delivery.
Budget 2025 announced the results of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review (CER) in which CATSA’s funding will decrease by $30.5 million in 2026/27, $31.8 million in 2027/28, and $48.9 million in 2028/29 onwards.
In March 2026, the Government of Canada confirmed CATSA’s supplemental funding of $736.8 million for 2026/27 (net of CER reductions). Sustainable funding is necessary in 2027/28 and beyond for CATSA to deliver its mandated activities. Therefore, the plans and activities outlined in this Corporate Plan are subject to confirmation of the required funding for 2027/28 to 2030/31.