Aircraft movement statistics: Major airports, June 2021
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Released: 2021-08-26
378,048
June 2021
22.7% 
(year-over-year change)
Highlights
In June, there were a total of 378,048 aircraft movements at Canada's major airports. While this was an increase of almost 70,000 movements from June 2020, it was just over two-thirds (67.9%) of the number from June 2019, before the pandemic.
Domestic movements have recovered more than international movements have. In June, total domestic movements reached two-thirds (67.3%) of their June 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, while flights to and from the United States stood at less than one-fifth (18.2%) of their pre-pandemic levels and other international traffic at one-quarter (25.5%).
During the first six months of 2021, there were 39,134 movements to the United States, 3,793 fewer than in June 2019 alone.
British Columbia was home to Canada's three busiest airports in June: Boundary Bay (25,707 movements), Abbotsford (15,091) and Pitt Meadows (13,843).
Another slow start to the peak summer travel season
Total aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) at the 90 Canadian airports equipped with NAV CANADA towers and flight service stations stood at 378,048 in June, up 22.7% from June 2020, when the country was still in the full throes of the pandemic. Itinerant movements (flights from one airport to another) increased by almost a third (+29.9%), and local movements (flights in the vicinity of the airport) were up 12.9%.
Despite these gains, total aircraft movements in June 2021 were still 67.9% of the levels reported for the same month before the pandemic (June 2019), with itinerant movements at 60.1% and local movements at 85.2%.
Chart 1
Total aircraft movements at major airports, by class of operation
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 in this release will be made with the same month of 2019 (also referred to as "pre-pandemic"), when aircraft movement levels were in line with historical trends.
Domestic, transborder and other international movements
Total domestic movements (within Canada) were down 32.7% in June, compared with the same month pre-pandemic (June 2019). Looking only at level I to III and foreign carriers, domestic activity was 51.0% below its June 2019 level, a small improvement from the 57.4% observed in May 2021 (versus May 2019).
Chart 2
Domestic movements at major airports, 2019 to 2021
As travel restrictions were more or less unchanged in June, aircraft movements to and from international destinations remained sluggish. Transborder activity (flights to and from the United States) during the month were down 81.8% compared with June 2019. To put this in perspective, during the first six months of 2021, there were 39,134 movements to the US, or 3,793 fewer than in June 2019 alone. Traffic to other international destinations was down 74.5% from pre-pandemic levels.
Infographic 1
Transborder movements at major airports, 2019 to 2021
Infographic 2
Other international movements at major airports, 2019 to 2021
Canada's busiest airports
In June, Canada's three busiest airports were all located in British Columbia. Boundary Bay had the highest number of movements (25,707), followed by Abbotsford (15,091) and Pitt Meadows (13,843).
Chart 3
Total aircraft movements at the top 10 Canadian airports in June, 2019 to 2021
Looking beyond June
Effective July 5, 2021, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents of Canada are no longer required to quarantine or stay in a government-authorized hotel upon arrival by air in Canada. Since August 9, 2021, American citizens and permanent residents of the United States—who currently reside in the United States and meet specific criteria to qualify as fully vaccinated—have been allowed to enter Canada for discretionary travel. The most recent data on aircraft traffic at major Canadian airports with NAV CANADA towers is available in Weekly aircraft movement statistics, and indicates an uptick in transborder movements into the typically busy summer season.
In July and August, the number of wildfires burning across Canada was well above the national 10-year average, and resources—including aircraft—were being mobilized nationally and internationally to assist in firefighting efforts and evacuations.
Note to readers
The Aircraft Movement Statistics: Major Airports Survey collects data on itinerant and local aircraft movements at major airports in Canada.
Major airports include all airports with either a NAV CANADA air traffic control tower or a NAV CANADA flight service station.
On November 5, 2020, NAV CANADA recognized the increase in air traffic at Red Deer Regional Airport in Alberta before the COVID-19 pandemic and changed its status from a flight service station to offer air traffic control service at the airport for 16 hours a day. As a result, effective November 1, 2020, monthly aircraft movement data for the airport are available in tables 23-10-0002-01 to 23-10-0008-01 (airports with NAV CANADA towers). Data prior to November 2020 remain available in tables 23-10-0009-01 to 23-10-0015-01 (airports with NAV CANADA flight service stations).
An aircraft movement is defined as a take-off, landing or simulated approach by an aircraft, as defined by NAV CANADA.
Data for June 2020 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; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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