Aircraft movement statistics: Major and select small airports, September 2023

Released: 2023-12-01

Highlights

In September, aircraft movements at Canada's major and select small airports totalled 508,827. This was an increase of 3.3% from September 2022 but 4.5% lower than September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of international movements between Canada and countries other than the United States was up 11.1% year over year in September 2023, while movements to and from the United States increased 7.3%. Total domestic movements increased 3.8% from September 2022, with those from smaller carriers (Level IV to VI) rising 9.1%.

Wildfire evacuation orders

Wildfires continued to burn throughout western Canada in September 2023 and evacuation orders were issued for regions in central British Columbia. Residents in other parts of the province, such as the Kelowna area, were able to return home and the British Columbia provincial state of emergency expired on September 14. While evacuees in the Northwest Territories were allowed to return, the territorial government extended its state of emergency into October.

Total aircraft movements increase in September

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, totalled 508,827 in September, 3.3% higher than in September 2022.

In September 2023, the number of itinerant movements (from one airport to another) was up 4.4% year over year to reach 360,773, and the number of local movements (within the vicinity of the airport) was virtually unchanged at 148,054.

Total aircraft movements in September 2023 were 4.5% below the September 2019 level, the highest monthly recovery since the beginning of the pandemic. Itinerant movements were 5.6% below the September 2019 level, while local movements were down 1.9%.

Chart 1 
Total aircraft movements at major and select small airports, by class of operation

Other international movements approach 2019 level

In September 2023, other international traffic (outside the United States) rose 11.1% from September 2022 to 14,220 and stood at roughly 97% of the movements in September 2019. Transborder movements (to and from the United States) increased 7.3% year over year to 35,699 in September 2023 but were 85.5% of the September 2019 level.

Total domestic movements (within Canada) were up 3.8% year over year to 310,854 in September 2023. Movements in this sector were up in all types of operation categories except for the Level I to III and foreign air carriers group, which declined 1.3%.

Chart 2 
Transborder and other international aircraft movements in September, 2019 to 2023 

Increased activity at Ontario flight schools

In September, airports in Ontario recorded the largest year-over-year increase, rising 11.4% to 133,046 movements. Many of the larger increases stemmed from airports that have flight schools, such as London (+3,763 movements) and Kitchener/Waterloo (+2,920 movements). Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International was the busiest airport, with 32,661 movements, an increase of 3.9% from September 2022.

Chart 3 
Total aircraft movements at the top five Canadian airports in September 2019, 2022 and 2023

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).