Canada's Airports: A Comprehensive Overview

what is canada airport

Canada is home to more than 500 airports, some of which offer world-class features to passengers. Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the country, located in Mississauga, Ontario, about 20 kilometres west of Toronto. Other notable airports in Canada include Vancouver International Airport, Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport. These airports serve as major hubs for domestic and international travel, offering convenient connections and efficient services to passengers travelling within Canada and abroad.

Characteristics Values
Number of airports >500
Number of international airports 13
Busiest airport Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport
Second busiest airport Montréal-Trudeau Airport
Busiest airport in Alberta Calgary International Airport
6th busiest airport Halifax Stanfield International Airport
Number of airlines operating at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport 46
Number of destinations served by Air Canada 192
Number of destinations served by Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport 147

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Canada's busiest airports

Canada is home to more than 500 airports, some of which offer world-class features. The country's airports are essential for connecting its dispersed population, and air travel demand is high. Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It is located in Mississauga, about 20 km west of Toronto, and features five runways and two terminals. The airport serves as a hub for major Canadian airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet and connects Canada with numerous destinations worldwide. It also handles extensive cargo operations, with around 416,966 metric tons of cargo transported through the airport in 2021.

Vancouver International Airport is another one of Canada's busiest airports, located about 12 kilometres away from Downtown Vancouver. The airport has won several prestigious awards, including Best North America Airport by Skytrax for nine consecutive years. Vancouver International has long served as Canada's hub for flights bound for Asia and Oceania.

Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is the third busiest airport in Canada, serving the Montreal province of Quebec. The airport connects to over 130 destinations and has seen substantial passenger growth in recent years, now serving over 22 million passengers annually, with nearly 16 million on international flights.

Other busy airports in Canada include Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport, which was the second busiest airport for passenger traffic in 2022, and Calgary International Airport, which is the busiest airport in the Alberta province and the fourth busiest in the country. Halifax Stanfield International Airport is also notable, being the sixth busiest airport in Canada and recording a dramatic increase in passenger activity over the years.

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International airports

Canada is the second-largest country in the world and has more than 500 airports, some of which offer world-class features. About half of these airports have scheduled commercial flights, but the majority are relatively small.

As of 11 August 2023, there are 13 airports designated as international by Transport Canada.

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Located 22.5 kilometres northwest of Downtown Vancouver, Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It provides facilities for United States border preclearance. The airport has two passenger terminals and five runways.

Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport is one of the most famous and busiest airports in Canada. Located about 12 kilometres from Downtown Vancouver, it was established in 1931 with a single runway. The airport has won several prestigious awards, including Best North America Airport by Skytrax for nine consecutive years. The Main Terminal comprises domestic and international concourses, while the South Terminal allows access to small aircraft flying to nearby destinations.

Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport

Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is the primary international airport serving the Montreal province of Quebec. It is the third busiest airport in Canada, lying within 20 kilometres of Downtown Montreal. The airport features the largest terminal in Canada, a two-storey structure with four different zones. It started operations in 1941 and now connects to more than 130 destinations.

Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport

Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport is situated in the south end of Downtown Ottawa, approximately 10 kilometres from the city. It is a single terminal airport that handles Ontario's busiest passenger traffic. The airport provides US border preclearance facilities.

Calgary International Airport

Formerly known as McCall Field, Calgary International Airport is the busiest international airport in the Alberta province. It was planned in the late 1930s and built about 17 kilometres from Downtown Calgary. The airport features the longest runway and the tallest control tower in Canada.

Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the sixth busiest airport in Canada, with a dramatic increase in passenger activity over the years. It is located about 35 kilometres from Downtown Halifax and has one terminal that handles all domestic and international flights.

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport is a primary commercial airport situated about seven kilometres from the city. It opened in 1928 and shares its location with Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg. The airport has one passenger terminal and two cargo terminals.

St. John's International Airport

St. John's International Airport is located in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Domestic airports

Canada is home to more than 500 airports, some of which are counted among the best in the world.

Vancouver International Airport, for example, has won the Best North America Airport by Skytrax for nine consecutive years. Located 12 kilometres from Downtown Vancouver, the airport was established in 1931 with a single runway and has since expanded. The South Terminal provides access to small aircraft flying to nearby destinations.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, on the other hand, is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It is located 22.5 kilometres northwest of Downtown Vancouver and provides facilities for United States border preclearance.

Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is another busy airport, ranked third in Canada. It is located within 20 kilometres of Downtown Montreal and connects to more than 130 destinations. It features the largest terminal in Canada, a two-storey structure with four different zones.

Smaller airports, such as Kamloops Airport, also known as John Moose Fulton Airfield, serve regional destinations. Kamloops Airport is located in the Thompson region, about 9 kilometres from the city.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, commonly referred to as Toronto Island Airport, is another small airport located in Toronto's downtown core.

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Air Canada services

Canada is home to more than 500 airports, some of which are counted among the best in the world. St. John's International Airport (YYT), Vancouver International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport are some of the notable airports in the country.

Air Canada is the country's flag carrier and largest airline in terms of fleet size and passengers carried. The airline provides a range of services to its customers, including:

  • Customer support for new reservations, changing or cancelling reservations, and flight information.
  • Managing bookings made directly with Air Canada, including Aeroplan rewards and bookings made through online travel agencies or travel agents.
  • Handling refund requests, issues with baggage, Flight Passes, Gift Cards, and other travel-related matters.
  • Providing a toll-free, 24/7 phone number for customers within Canada and the US to review or request accessibility services.

Air Canada also offers a Customer Service Plan that outlines its policies and addresses key service elements that most affect its customers.

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Customs and security

At some airports, travellers may be directed to a secondary inspection area. This is a normal part of the travelling process, and helps ensure the safety of Canada, its economy, and its residents. Border services officers may also be able to provide guidance and assistance to newcomers to Canada who need help with further documentation.

There are detailed rules about what can be brought into Canada, and some items may be subject to duty, taxes, or restrictions, or even prohibited. This includes prohibited and restricted weapons, cannabis, animals, food, vehicles, and boats. The CBSA works to detect and prevent contraband from entering Canada, using technology and detector dogs to identify instances of cross-border trafficking and help potential victims.

Canada has an agreement with the United States known as "preclearance," which allows U.S. customs and immigration officials to be located in Canada to clear or deny the admission of travellers or goods to the U.S. This arrangement has been in place since 1952 and provides faster and more reliable service for travellers, as well as enhanced security.

Frequently asked questions

Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in Canada. It is located in Mississauga, about 20 km west of Toronto in the province of Ontario.

Canada houses more than 500 airports, some of which are offering world-class features to passengers.

Some of the major airports in Canada include Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport.

Formerly known as McCall Field, Calgary International Airport is the busiest international airport in the Alberta province.

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