If you are going to the airport to listen than a hand held scanner should be ok. In general hand held are less sensitive than base models so you really should buy a decent antenna for the radio. I don't know if you have a radioshack in Canada but just get an adjustable telescopic antenna, it will fold for easy transport but is adjustable to Tune to the desired frequency, read the instructions that come with the antenna. Also another suggestion is to buy two good sets of rechargeable batteries. One in the radio and one ready to go into the radio. Lastly to find a good cheap radio try the old fav. EBAY. Its free to use paypal for buying and it is the safest way to buy off ebay. If the seller does not accept paypal reconsider the buy. I use paypal all the time. Hope this was helpful.
P.S. check with the local police to see if it is illegal to have a scanner in your car. I know in Michigan, unless you have a ham listens it is agents the law to have the radio in the care even if it is impossible to use (ie. no batteries). Yes, it is technically illegal in Michigan to bring the radio home form the store unless you have a ham listens.