For the first time in nearly 30 years, investors could have the opportunity to take control of Canada's largest airports as the country's government mulls selling them off. But will passengers benefit or pay the cost of the upheaval?

Canada's main airports are under the control of not-for-profit organizations, which manage them with the aim of benefiting local communities and not penalizing travelers. However, the government is now planning to sell off these large assets, allowing them to be operated for profit once again, which the government feels could bring billions of dollars of income — both from the sales and operating taxes, and allowing private organizations to modernize and improve the facilities.

Canada's airports have been frequently lauded as world-class facilities, especially when compared with their counterparts over the border in the U.S. However, travel in Canada is often expensive, and many fear the sale of the facilities will ultimately add even more to the cost of travel for passengers. Many local communities also fear sales into private hands will lead to less local control of airport facilities, and ultimately fewer services by airlines as costs increase.

In Vancouver, many locals are angry that since the 1990s when YVR airport was turned into a not-for-profit organization, all the proceeds earned through the airport have been invested into improving the airport and creating world-class facilities, which will now benefit a private operator. The anti-sale feeling is such that the Vancouver City Council has even joined the opposition, voicing its opinions in a letter to Transportation Minister Marc Garneau.

"I'm not against more infrastructure in Canada," Vancouver Airport's CEO Craig Richmond said. "I also agree that if you sold all the major airports you'd probably get a big check. But therein lies the problem, because these airports have already been paid for by all the passengers and airlines coming through here and other airports.

However, as seen in other countries where privatization of airports has occurred, doing so can benefit passengers greatly by allowing cheaper air travel something for which Canadians have been crying out. The government claims it is paying attention to this in trying to work out its strategy for the sale of the 26 airports it currently operates. It also hopes corporate operators will be held to greater account over their operations than the not-for-profit organizations.

The government is not making any decisions immediately, giving time to decide on whether to follow through with the complete sales, or selling only the airport land, or keeping the not-for-profit situation, which still has a number of years to go on existing leases. It is also seeking the opinions of communities, current operators and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (UCTE), which is anxious that workers' jobs be a vital part of discussions.