It is with great pride that I present the 2023 annual report, my first as President and CEO at the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). As I step into my new role, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my predecessor Michael Saunders. His commitment and contributions to CATSA and aviation security in Canada have been exceptional, and I consider it an honour to carry on leading this important organization. I also want to thank and acknowledge the senior management team, as well as the members of the Board of Directors who have worked tirelessly guiding the organization’s success this past year. I also recognize all CATSA employees who continuously demonstrate their value through an immeasurable pride in their work and a sheer determination to get the job done.
Finally, thank you to the front-line screening workforce and our screening contractor partners for their resolve, dedication and commitment to continuously improve the passenger experience. In the last year, more than 57.6 million passengers were screened at CATSA checkpoints, representing an increase of 134.7% from the previous year. And while wait time service levels did temporarily surge at some key airports during peak times in the spring and summer, on average, 88.6% of passengers at Class 1 airports waited less than 15 minutes to be screened this past year. These are results for which we can all be proud.
Over the last year, the air travel industry faced significant challenges as traveller demand peaked to near pre-pandemic levels within a short period amid challenging labour market conditions. This surge affected passenger wait times for security screening at some key airports across the country requiring CATSA to accelerate its recovery plans.
Critical response measures were quickly initiated, including work with screening contractors on the expansion of staffing efforts and an increase in training supports. CATSA also implemented the use of pre-certified screening officers to perform non-screening tasks at pre-board screening checkpoints. The success of this approach has resulted in a continuation of these efforts for the foreseeable future. I am immensely proud of the strong collaborative effort put forth and the level of dedication shown by our employees and partners during this challenging time.
Though the last year greatly focused on aviation recovery, our commitment to reducing accessibility barriers for air travellers as well as for CATSA employees remained at the forefront of our priorities. In December 2022, CATSA published its Accessibility Plan outlining critical action items set out over the next three years. While this inaugural plan is just a step in our journey, we are proud of the positive direction in which we are headed.
CATSA also took meaningful steps to advance its work towards reconciliation by launching Reconciliation Starts with Me, an Indigenous Cultural Awareness Learning Program. The two-part program, delivered to screening contractors, screening officers and CATSA employees, shared critical insight into the history of Indigenous Peoples with a goal of increasing awareness and understanding. The learning provided important context, and complemented procedural changes for the screening of sacred and spiritual items. These changes will help provide a more inclusive and positive screening experience for Indigenous travellers.
As we look ahead, CATSA’s priority remains focused on providing the highest level of security screening while improving the passenger experience. The 3-year funding commitment from the Government of Canada will empower CATSA to engage in more strategic, long-term planning. We are committed to advancing the priorities of the federal government by exploring innovative solutions that drive operational efficiencies and effectiveness, including investing in systems that will enhance our technological infrastructure. I look forward to working productively with Transport Canada, screening contractors, airport authorities and air carriers. We are all committed to achieving service excellence and I am confident that with the support and engagement of our federal partners and industry stakeholders, we will be successful.
Nada Semaan
President and Chief Executive Officer