Owais Crawford
Canada's breathtaking scenery attracts millions of visitors each year, resulting in high air traffic in some areas. The country's busiest airports are concentrated in the Eastern Triangle, which includes Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as in Vancouver, which serves as a major transpacific hub. Toronto Pearson Airport, Canada's largest airport, is a primary hub for Air Canada, offering routes to destinations around the world. Other busy airports include Calgary International Airport, Edmonton International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport, which have experienced significant increases in passenger traffic in recent years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Busiest Airport | Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) |
| Number of Passengers in 2019 | 50.5 million |
| Number of Passengers in 2020 | 13.3 million |
| Number of Destinations | More than 155 cities |
| Airlines | Air Canada, Porter Airlines, Air Canada Express |
| Destinations | New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Hartford, Milwaukee, London, Paris, Edinburgh, Bucharest, Barcelona |
| Second Busiest Airport | Calgary International Airport |
| Passenger Increase in 2023 | 27.9% |
| Third Busiest Airport | Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) |
| Passenger Increase in 2023 | 32% |
| Passenger Number in 2023 | 21 million |
| Airlines | Air Canada, Qatar Airways, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Tunisair, Turkish Airlines |
| Destinations | Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Nice, Bordeaux, Brussels, Casablanca, Tunis |
| Fourth Busiest Airport | Vancouver International Airport |
| Passenger Increase in 2023 | 30.9% |
| Fifth Busiest Airport | Edmonton International Airport |
| Passenger Increase in 2023 | 28.2% |
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What You'll Learn
Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) is Canada's busiest airport
Toronto-Pearson has five main runways and 30 taxiways, constructed of concrete, asphalt, or a combination of the two. The airport covers 4,600 acres, equivalent to nearly 12,500 hockey arenas. It is the second-largest employment zone in Canada, facilitating 50,000 jobs and 6.3% of Ontario's GDP.
Other major airports in Canada include Edmonton International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Alberta and serves as an important hub, with nonstop flights to 58 destinations across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Vancouver International Airport is another critical gateway, serving as a major transpacific hub and a gateway to popular Asian destinations. Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) is also a significant airport, serving as a cultural hub with modern art installations and a focus on sustainability.
In addition to these larger airports, Canada also has smaller, busy airports such as Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which is self-sufficient and serves 21 destinations across Canada and the United States. Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, Nova Scotia, is ranked as one of the best airports in the Americas for its service and amenities.
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Vancouver International Airport is a major transpacific hub
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is Canada's second busiest airport by passenger traffic, with 26.2 million travellers passing through in 2024. It is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, just 12 km from Downtown Vancouver. The airport is a hub for Air Canada and WestJet, and it offers more direct flights to China than any other airport in North America or Europe.
YVR's role as a transpacific hub is underpinned by its location in the Pacific Northwest, which facilitates connections between the Americas, Asia, and Australia. In 2011, the airport announced a program to encourage airlines to increase flights between Vancouver and Asia, which has since succeeded in many of its goals. YVR has seen a significant increase in international travellers, with a 10.4% increase in 2024 compared to 2023, and a 9.7% increase in transborder flights to the US.
The airport's strategic position has led to strong demand for route development, particularly to secondary cities across China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Europe is also an emerging market, with opportunities to increase flight frequency and add new routes. Connections to major cities in Mexico, Central, and South America are also becoming increasingly important. To accommodate this growing demand, Vancouver Airport has developed a master plan to transform the airport into a world-class, sustainable hub. The plan includes terminal expansions, new taxiways, and improved access infrastructure, with the goal of accommodating up to 35 million passengers annually by 2037.
YVR's reputation for operational efficiency, safety, and award-winning customer service make it a smart choice for airlines expanding their route networks. The airport has won several notable international awards, including the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award for a record 12 consecutive years from 2007 to 2022.
In summary, Vancouver International Airport is a major transpacific hub, offering convenient connections to destinations in the Americas, Asia, and beyond. With its ongoing expansion plans and focus on efficiency and customer satisfaction, YVR is well-positioned to continue its role as a key gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
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$19.9
Edmonton International Airport is an important hub
Edmonton International Airport is one of three major airports in Alberta, Canada, and is an important hub for several reasons. Firstly, it offers a wide range of nonstop flights to various destinations, including local connections within Canada, and international flights to the United States, Latin America, Europe, and seasonal flights to popular destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. This variety of routes makes Edmonton a significant gateway for travellers, with approximately eight million passengers passing through each year.
Secondly, Edmonton International Airport provides important facilities and services for passengers. It has United States border preclearance facilities, allowing passengers to clear US Customs and Border Protection efficiently during connections. The airport also boasts an impressive array of shops, restaurants, and services within the terminal, ensuring travellers have access to essential and convenient amenities. Over 60 shops and restaurants are available, along with unique features such as a horse racetrack and casino, art displays, and live music.
Additionally, Edmonton International Airport has a significant impact on the local economy. It serves as a hub for Flair Airlines and is one of WestJet's main hubs, with the airline holding more than 70% of the market share at the airport. This contributes to the economic development of the region and reinforces the airport's position as a critical transportation hub. The airport has also undergone significant development projects, such as the "1998–2005 Redevelopment Project," which included expanding various facilities and infrastructure.
Moreover, Edmonton International Airport has a long history, dating back to the 1930s, and has experienced periods of growth and decline. In the 1970s, the airport saw rapid growth in traffic alongside the city of Edmonton's expansion, but a decline followed in the early 1980s due to the usage of Edmonton City Centre Airport for short-haul flights. However, growth returned in 1995, and the airport has since continued to develop and enhance its infrastructure, including plans for a third runway and the extension of an existing runway to increase capacity and accessibility.
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Calgary International Airport is Alberta's busiest airport
Calgary International Airport, branded as YYC Calgary International Airport, is indeed Alberta's busiest airport. It is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 miles) northeast of downtown Calgary, covering an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 sq mi; 5,144 acres; 2,082 ha). With 18.9 million passengers in 2024 and 202,497 aircraft movements in 2023, it is not only Alberta's busiest airport but also the fourth busiest in Canada by both passenger traffic and aircraft movements.
The airport has nonstop flights to numerous destinations in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. The region's petroleum and tourism industries, including its proximity to Banff National Park, have contributed to its growth. Calgary International Airport has a long history, dating back to the 1950s when it was known as McCall Field. In 1957, the airport saw 110,984 passenger arrivals and 96,287 departures, and it has continued to expand and thrive since then.
The airport has undergone significant developments over the years, including the construction of a new passenger terminal in the 1950s, which led to its designation as an "international airport" in the 1960s. In 1974, it hosted flight testing for the Boeing 747, and the Government of Alberta acquired ownership of Pacific Western Airlines, making Calgary its hub and headquarters. In the 1990s, the Calgary Airport Authority was incorporated, and a new air traffic control tower was opened. The airport has continued to expand, with WestJet choosing it as a base of operations in 1996, and ongoing expansion projects aim to enhance its capacity and connectivity even further.
YYC Calgary International Airport is known for its premier shopping experience, boasting more than 135 shops and services for travellers. The airport's International Terminal Expansion project is set to double the size of its existing facility, adding nearly two million square feet and 22 new aircraft gates. This expansion includes the construction of Canada's longest runway in 2014. The airport also played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating a program that allowed certain travellers to enter Canada more easily and undergo shorter quarantine periods.
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Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) is Quebec's busiest airport
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) is Quebec's busiest airport, serving more than 21 million passengers annually. It is located 13 miles (20 km) west of downtown Montreal and is named after Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the 15th Prime Minister of Canada. YUL is one of two airports in Montreal managed and operated by Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), the other being Montréal–Mirabel, which now deals primarily with cargo and private flights.
Montreal-Trudeau is a significant gateway to Canada, with 15.79 million, or 71% of its passengers, travelling on non-domestic flights—the highest proportion among Canadian airports. It is one of only two airports in Canada offering non-stop flights to five continents, with the other being Toronto Pearson International Airport. On average, 58,000 passengers transit through Montréal-Trudeau each day, with the route between Montreal and Paris being Canada's busiest international route.
The airport is a hub for several airlines, including Air Canada, Air Inuit, and Air Transat, and serves as an operating base for Porter Airlines. It offers a comprehensive range of services, including shops, restaurants, and a Marriott hotel within the complex. Additionally, it provides ground transportation, multiple parking options, and VIP lounges in each terminal.
Montreal-Trudeau has experienced substantial growth in passenger traffic, reclaiming its position as the third busiest airport in Canada in 2023, with an over 32% increase in passenger numbers. This growth is attributed to its wide range of international destinations and its appeal as a gateway to French-speaking countries and cities, including Paris, Lyon, Nantes, and Brussels.
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Frequently asked questions
Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) is Canada's busiest airport. In 2019, 50.5 million passengers travelled through Pearson.
Sources suggest that the second busiest airport in Canada is Vancouver International Airport, which serves as a major gateway to the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2023, Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) was ranked as the third busiest airport in Canada, with more than 21 million passengers passing through its doors.
Calgary International Airport is the busiest airport in Alberta.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the busiest airport in Atlantic Canada.
