Aircraft movement statistics: Major airports, February 2020

Released: 2020-04-29

As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Canadian government restricted flights between Canada and China in late January. In February, traffic between the two countries dropped by 49.8%, to 385 takeoffs and landings from 767 in February 2019. Flights between China and Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International, Ontario were down 56.4% while those between China and Vancouver International, British Columbia were down 41.8%.

It is expected that larger impacts on aircraft movements will be felt in March. Early in the month, Air Canada cancelled flights between Toronto and Hong Kong and to Italy. By month's end, Canadian carriers had gradually suspended most transborder and other international routes in response to further travel restrictions put in place by the Government of Canada.

Last year, March was the busiest month of the year for flights between Canada and other international destinations, and the fifth busiest month of the year for transborder flights. With travel in both segments restricted this year, March will see a more severe reduction in air traffic with significant declines across all sectors in the months that follow.

Meanwhile, February data show aircraft take-offs and landings increased 15.3% to 406,940 movements, compared with 352,797 in February 2019, at the 90 Canadian airports with NAV CANADA air traffic control towers and flight service stations. It should be noted that February 2020 had 29 days, while February 2019 had 28 days.

Itinerant movements (flights from one airport to another) grew 8.9% to 279,079 and local movements (flights that remain in the vicinity of the airport) were up 32.4% to 127,861. Each was impacted by increased activity by general aviation operations.

Overall itinerant growth was largely attributable to a rise in the domestic sector with domestic itinerant movements (within Canada) increasing by 11.0% to 227,592. By comparison, transborder movements (between Canada and the United States) increased marginally, by 0.6% to 35,013, as did other international traffic (+0.5% to 16,474 movements). Indeed, excluding activity on February 29, 2020, both transborder and other international movements would have declined.

In February, the 10 busiest airports accounted for almost 4 out of every 10 (39.7%) movements. Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International is Canada's busiest airport and reported 33,017 movements (+1.1%). This was followed by Vancouver International, which reported 23,364 movements (+2.5%); Calgary International, Alberta, with 17,626 movements (-2.1%); and Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, Quebec, with 17,148 movements (+0.4%).

Chart 1 
Total aircraft movements at major airports

Chart 2 
Total aircraft movements at top 10 Canadian airports, February 2020

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).