Aircraft movement statistics: Major and select small airports, July 2023
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Released: 2023-09-28
550,205
July 2023
-0.2% 
(12-month change)
Highlights
In July, aircraft movements at Canada's major and select small airports totaled 550,205, roughly the same number as in July 2022, but 14.9% lower than in July 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thunder Bay (+3,208 movements; +41.2%) and Kamloops (+2,735; +80.1%) reported the largest year-over-year increases in July 2023.
Most severe wildfire season on record
In July, Natural Resources Canada reported that the 2023 wildfire season was already Canada's most severe on record. By that time, the area burned by wildfires was estimated to be more than 10 million hectares. With the use of aircraft to help combat the wildfires, there was increased activity from smaller carriers (Level IV to VI) in July. This was particularly apparent at many airports in British Columbia, which reported double-digit increases for this category of air carriers.
Total aircraft movements virtually unchanged in July
Total aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) at the 90 airports with NAV CANADA towers and flight service stations, combined with 33 select small airports, totaled 550,205 in July, roughly the same (-0.2%) as July 2022.
Local movements (within the vicinity of the airport) were down 10,103 to 153,046, largely offset by an increase in itinerant movements (from one airport to another), which were up 9,214 to 397,159.
Total aircraft movements in July were 14.9% below the pre-pandemic July 2019 level, down slightly from the decline reported in June 2023 ( -13.2% from June 2019). Local movements were 20.9% below the July 2019 level, while itinerant movements were down 12.3%.
Chart 1
Total aircraft movements at major and select small airports, by class of operation
Increased itinerant movements in all sectors
In July 2023, transborder movements (to and from the United States) increased by 8.5%, compared with July 2022, to reach 37,276. Movements in this sector were 17.4% below those of July 2019 and have not reached 85% of the 2019 levels in any month of 2023. Other international traffic (outside the United States) rose 10.9% from July 2022 to 15,494, but was 7.5% below the July 2019 level, before the pandemic.
Total domestic movements (within Canada) edged up 1.4% year over year to 344,389 in July 2023. Movements conducted by Level I to III carriers increased by 2.5% to 165,318, while Level IV to VI carriers were up 1.2% to 78,679.
Chart 2
Transborder and other international aircraft movements in July, 2019 to 2023
Largest increase at Thunder Bay
In July 2023, Thunder Bay recorded the largest increase in aircraft movements, with 3,208 more movements than in July 2022, followed by Kamloops (+2,735 movements). Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International remained the busiest Canadian airport, with 33,624 movements, a year-over-year increase of 3.7%. Airports in British Columbia accounted for more than 30% of all aircraft movements in July 2023, totaling 167,905.
Chart 3
Total aircraft movements at the top five Canadian airports in July 2019, 2022 and 2023
Note to readers
An aircraft movement is defined as a take-off, landing or simulated approach by an aircraft, as defined by NAV CANADA.
Starting with the October 2022 release, 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 improves the overall coverage of aircraft movement statistics in Canada.
Data for previous months 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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