Aircraft movement statistics

In June, the 42 Canadian airports with NAV CANADA air traffic control towers reported 415,600 total movements, a decrease of 4.5% compared with June 2002 (435,156). Twenty-six airports showed year-over-year decreases in total aircraft movements; four airports showed decreases greater than 20%. Overall, the decrease in June 2003 was reflected in both itinerant movements (flights from one airport to another) and local movements (flights that remain in the vicinity of the airport). Itinerant movements dropped 1.2 % (down 3,517 movements) while local movements dropped 11.1% (down 16,039 movements). The effect of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) continued to contribute to a decline in air travel.

The top ten airports in terms of volume of itinerant movements in June showed year-over-year variations ranging from 12.1% at Montreal/St Hubert to a decrease of 9.8% at Québec/Jean Lesage International. Five airports recorded decreases. The top ten airports in terms of local movements showed year-over-year variations ranging from an increase of 17.5% at Montreal/St Hubert to a decline of 37.2% at Waterloo Regional. Six airports recorded declines.

The June issue of Aircraft movement statistics (51F0001PIE, TP1496, free) is now available on Statistics Canada's website (). From the Our products and services page, choose Free publications, then Transport and warehousing. Historical issues are available on Transport Canada's website (http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/report/TP1496/tp1496.htm).

Preliminary statistics for the 56 Canadian airports with NAV CANADA flight service stations are also available for June.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2715.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Kathie Davidson (613-951-0141; fax: 613-951-0010; aviationstatistics@statcan.gc.ca), Transportation Division.