Aircraft movement statistics: Major and select small airports, November 2022
Released: 2023-01-26
410,207
November 2022
2.7% 
(12-month change)
Highlights
In November, aircraft movements at Canada's major and select small airports totalled 410,207. This was an increase of 2.7% from November 2021 and represented 89.7% of the level from November 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November 2022, the number of movements to and from the United States was 83.0% of the pre-pandemic level from November 2019, while other international traffic reached 93.8% of the pre-pandemic level. In contrast, domestic movements from Level I to III and foreign carriers were 81.5% of the November 2019 level, down from 82.5% in October 2022 (compared with October 2019).
Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International was Canada's busiest airport, with over 29,000 movements in November.
On March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and, in the months that followed, total aircraft movements remained well below historical levels. Unless otherwise specified, comparisons are made with the same month of 2019 (also referred to as "pre-pandemic"), when aircraft movement levels were in line with historical trends.
Total aircraft movements
Total aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) at the 90 airports with NAV CANADA towers and flight service stations, combined with the 34 select small airports, totalled 410,207 in November, up 2.7% from November 2021.
Itinerant movements (from one airport to another) increased 6.0% year over year to reach 283,187 in November, while local movements (within the vicinity of the airport) declined 4.0% to 127,020.
Total aircraft movements were 89.7% of the pre-pandemic level from November 2019, relatively unchanged from the 89.5% proportion reported in October 2022 (compared with October 2019). Itinerant movements were at 89.3% of the pre-pandemic level in November, while local movements were at 90.5% of the pre-pandemic level.
Chart 1
Total aircraft movements at major and select small airports, by class of operation
Movements to and from outside of Canada continue upward trend
In November, transborder traffic (to and from the United States) was 83.0% of the pre-pandemic level from November 2019. This represented the highest proportion of transborder movements since the start of the pandemic, and the first time it surpassed 80.0% over the period.
Other international movements (outside the United States) also drew closer to the pre-pandemic level in November 2022, reaching 93.8% of that reported in November 2019.
Total domestic movements (within Canada) settled at 89.9% of the pre-pandemic level in November 2022, while domestic movements by Level I-III and foreign carriers were at 81.5%, a decline from the 82.5% reported in October.
Infographic 1
Transborder movements at major and select small airports, 2019 to 2022
Infographic 2
Other international movements at major and select small airports, 2019 to 2022
Ontario airports and Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International busiest in November
In November, airports in Ontario had the most aircraft movements, overtaking British Columbia, which held the top spot for five consecutive months. Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba rounded out the top five. Together, these five provinces accounted for 87.6% of total movements.
Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International remained the busiest airport in Canada, with 29,148 movements in November. Vancouver International was the next busiest, which had 20,271 movements for the month.
Chart 2
Total aircraft movements at the top five Canadian airports in November, 2019 to 2022
Note to readers
Starting with October 2022, the Aircraft Movement Statistics: Major airports series has been replaced by Aircraft Movement Statistics: Major and select small airports. This series collects data on itinerant and local aircraft movements from both major airports (those with towers and flight service stations operated by NAV CANADA) as well as a selection of airports previously available in the small airport data series. This enhancement will improve the overall coverage of aircraft movements in Canada.
Releases in The Daily are now accompanied by a new set of data tables (23-10-0296-01 to 23-10-0304-01), of which two, 23-10-0296-01 and 23-10-0302-01, contain historical data beginning with 2019. The remaining tables (23-10-0297-01 to 23-10-0301-01, 23-10-0303-01 and 23-10-0304-01) have data commencing with reference year 2022.
Data prior to 2022 for the major airports can be found in tables 23-10-0002-01 to 23-10-0015-01. Data prior to 2019 for the selected small airports can be found in tables 23-10-0016-01 and 23-10-0017-01.
An aircraft movement is defined as a take-off, landing or simulated approach by an aircraft, as defined by NAV CANADA.
Data for 2021 may have been revised.
The data in this monthly release are not seasonally adjusted.
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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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