Aircraft movement statistics: Major airports, March 2020

Released: 2020-05-28

Highlights

The number of aircraft take-offs and landings shrank by almost one-third in March in response to a series of measures imposed by governments in mid-month to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

This relative decline was shared more or less equally by domestic movements, transborder movements between Canada and the United States, and other international movements.

The year-over-year decrease in overall transborder activity in March (-29.4%) surpassed the decline experienced in September 2001 (-22.1%).

Aircraft movements are down substantially

Aircraft take-offs and landings fell to 345,894 movements in March, down 31.6% from 505,481 movements in March 2019. Traffic at the 90 Canadian airports with NAV CANADA air traffic control towers and flight service stations dropped significantly during the second half of the month, as measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic took effect across the country. In response to the new restrictions, some Canadian air carriers shifted their operations to repatriation or cargo flights to facilitate the movement of essential goods. By the end of the month, the majority of companies had either reduced their regular operations significantly or suspended them entirely.

In March, itinerant movements (flights from one airport to another) declined 29.3% overall to 240,248, and local movements (flights that remain in the vicinity of the airport) fell 36.1% to 105,646. These decreases were driven primarily by the closure of the Canadian border to non-residents, coupled with the shutdown of non-essential businesses by provincial and territorial governments. Local activity, conducted by general aviation operations (including flight schools), was further affected by these enterprises' inability to comply with physical distancing protocols.

Declines felt across all sectors

Activity in all three sectors of itinerant traffic (domestic, transborder and other international) fell sharply in the latter portion of March, with all of the country's busiest airports posting major decreases. Domestic itinerant movements (within Canada) declined 29.5% to 197,255 movements, with the largest decreases occurring at Vancouver International, British Columbia (-4,867 movements); Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International, Ontario (-4,144); and Calgary International, Alberta (-3,832). Similarly, transborder activity (between Canada and the United States) dropped 29.4% to 29,327 movements. Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International (-4,378), Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International in Quebec (-1,638) and Vancouver International (-1,593) led the declines. Other international traffic dropped 27.5% to 13,666 movements, with the biggest decreases at Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International (-2,233), Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (-921) and Vancouver International (-830).

Infographic 1 
COVID-19 impacts: Key events affecting air travel in March

Infographic 2 
Domestic itinerant movements by day, March 2019 and March 2020 

Infographic 3 
Transborder movements by day, March 2019 and March 2020

Infographic 4 
Other international movements by day, March 2019 and March 2020

In March, the 10 busiest airports accounted for roughly 4 of every 10 (39.9%) movements. Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International, Canada's busiest airport, reported 27,997 movements (-27.9%). It was followed by Vancouver International, which reported 19,578 movements (-27.1%); Calgary International, with 15,189 movements (-25.5%); and Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, with 14,945 movements (-25.4%).

Looking ahead to April data, air traffic should see unprecedented year-over-year decreases as Canada's major airlines suspended or dramatically scaled back their operations through the entire month. Air Canada was the only Canadian carrier to maintain a limited number of scheduled transborder and international flights. The carrier announced further reductions to its operations in April 2020 and suspended all service to the United States for 30 days, as of April 26, 2020.

Chart 1 
Total aircraft movements at major airports

Chart 2 
Total aircraft movements at top 10 Canadian airports, March 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).