Calgary International Airport breaks record with 18.5 million travelers in 2023

It's been a record year for Calgary International Airport YYC.

The tourism hub is expected to reach 18.5 million passengers in 2023, a 2.8 percent increase over the 18 million passenger record set in 2019.

This number also represents an increase of approximately 4 million passengers from 2022 onwards.

“(These) results reflect the dedication of our teams and everyone in our aviation ecosystem,” said Chris Dinsdale, president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority (CAA).

“We are proud that YYC plays an important role in Alberta's economy, connecting people and goods, while supporting Alberta's thriving business and tourism industry, which contributes approximately $8 billion to the region's GDP.”

YYC was also the second highest valued non-residential property in Calgary that year at $961 million.

Earlier, City of Calgary Assessor Eddie Lee said the rebound in travel was the cause.

WestJet announced an agreement with the Alberta government in the fall of 2022 to double capacity at Calgary International Airport by the end of the decade, establishing Calgary as an exclusive global connectivity hub.

In 2023, the CAA said WestJet's decision to focus its expansion on YYC could lead to 25% more passengers at the airport in that year.

YYC also welcomed new carriers and saw strong growth in existing airline partners, giving travelers more choice to connect to in-demand destinations, the CAA said.

Several new routes have already been announced, including nonstop flights from Calgary to Seoul and Calgary to Reykjavik.

These routes will start operating this summer.

Calgary International Airport will also undergo a major overhaul later this year with a $200 million reconstruction project for the West Runway beginning in spring 2024.

With files from Kenneth Chan