Aircraft movement statistics: Major airports

The activity at major Canadian airports picked up in March 2006, but remained well below the peak reached in 1999. In March 2006, the 98 Canadian airports with NAV CANADA air traffic control towers or flight service stations reported 466,697 aircraft take-offs and landings, an increase of 3.4% compared to March 2005 (451,442 movements). However, the level of aircraft movement activity was 15.6% lower than the 552,829 take-offs and landings observed in March 1999.

Itinerant movements (flights from one airport to another), accounting for 71% of the movements at these airports, were 11.5% lower compared to the March 1999 level, while local movements (flights that remain in the vicinity of the airport), accounting for the remaining 29%, were 24.0% lower compared to March 1999.

The March 2006 monthly report, Vol. 1 (TP141, free) is available on Transport Canada's website at the following URL (http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/Report/tp141e/tp141.htm).

Note: The TP 141 monthly report is issued in two volumes. Volume 1 presents statistics for the major Canadian airports (i.e., those with NAV CANADA air traffic control towers or flight service stations). Volume 2 presents statistics for the smaller airports (i.e., those without air traffic control towers). Both volumes are available free upon release on Transport Canada's website.

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.