Highlights
In October, Canada's major and select small airports recorded a total of 517,205 aircraft movements, up 8.7% from October 2023. Itinerant movements increased 5.5% year over year to 346,798 in October 2024, while local movements rose 15.9% to 170,407.
At the same time, major Canadian airlines flew 7.0 million passengers on scheduled and charter services in October, with a passenger load factor of 83.1%.
Consult the Aviation Data Visualization Hub to explore aircraft movement statistics and monthly civil aviation statistics in an interactive format.
Movements increase in all sectors
More aircraft movements were recorded in all sectors in October 2024, compared with the same month in 2023. Domestic movements were up 5.7% year over year to reach 295,627 in October 2024, following two relatively flat months.
Chart 1: Total aircraft movements at major and select small airports, by class of operation
Description - Chart 1
Data table: Total aircraft movements at major and select small airports, by class of operation
Source: Table 23-10-0296-01.
Transborder movements (to and from the United States) rose 3.5% from the previous year to 36,655 in October 2024, led by Halifax/Robert L Stanfield International Airport (+55.3%) and Winnipeg/James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (+39.6%). Activity at both airports was boosted as some carriers restarted several transborder routes in 2024. Other international traffic (outside the United States) increased 5.4% to 14,516 movements.
In October, year-over-year gains in aircraft movements were recorded in nine provinces and territories, led by airports in Ontario (+10,961 movements) and Manitoba (+7,819). Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International remained the busiest airport in Canada, with 32,483 movements, albeit down 1.3% from the same month in 2023. In October 2024, gains (+2.8%) in other international activity were insufficient to offset declines in both domestic (-3.4%) and transborder (-1.1%) movements.
Major airlines' operating and financial statistics
The seven Canadian Level I air carriers flew 7.0 million passengers on scheduled and charter services in October 2024, 7.2% more than in October 2023, when there were six Level I air carriers. One Level II air carrier was reclassified to Level I in 2024.
The number of passenger-kilometres in October was 18.7 billion, with a capacity of 22.6 billion available seat-kilometres. As a result, the passenger load factor (the ratio of passenger-kilometres to available seat-kilometres) was 83.1%, down from 84.8% in the same month one year earlier.
Chart 2: Passenger load factor, Canadian air carriers, Level I
Description - Chart 2
Data table: Passenger load factor, Canadian air carriers, Level I
Source: Table 23-10-0079-01.
Each passenger travelled an average of 2,680 kilometres in October, on par with October 2023 (2,676 kilometres).
Level I carriers flew 175,000 hours in October 2024 and generated $2.4 billion in total operating revenue.
Note to readers
As of reference month January 2024, Statistics Canada publishes a new consolidated monthly release called "Aircraft movement and civil aviation statistics." The new release covers the following survey programs:
- Aircraft movement statistics (survey number 2715, tables 23-10-0296-01 to 23-10-0304-01)
- Monthly civil aviation statistics (survey number 5026, table 23-10-0079-01).
The tables associated with the above survey programs remain unchanged and will be updated as usual. Definitions, data sources and methods for each survey program remain accessible through each survey's respective number.
Consult the Aviation Data Visualization Hub to explore data from Aircraft movement statistics and Monthly civil aviation statistics in an interactive format.
The aviation statistics program uses respondent (Monthly civil aviation statistics) and administrative (Aircraft movement statistics) data.
An aircraft movement is defined as a take-off, landing or simulated approach by an aircraft, as defined by NAV CANADA.
An itinerant movement is the initial take-off or the final landing of an aircraft.
A local movement is an aircraft conducting the following airport activities: touch-and-go, stop-and-go, simulated approach without landing, low approach, pull up while on final approach or missed approach. Local movements are often carried out during training flights (touch-and-go), equipment tests, etc.
On July 11, 2024, the flight service station at Peace River, British Columbia, was officially closed. Starting in August 2024, movements for Peace River Airport are excluded from the Aircraft movement and civil aviation statistics. Data prior to August 2024 will continue to be available.
The Monthly Civil Aviation Survey covers all Canadian Level I air carriers: Air Canada (including Air Canada Rouge), Air Transat, Flair, Jazz, Porter, Sunwing and WestJet (including WestJet Encore and WestJet Link). The number of air carriers increased from six in 2023 to seven in 2024 because one Level II air carrier was reclassified to Level I.
The average passenger trip length is calculated by dividing the number of passenger-kilometres by the number of passengers. Trips across Canada and around the world are included in this calculation.
The data in this monthly release are not seasonally adjusted.
Data are subject to revisions.
Reference
Data tables: Access the latest tables.
- Note: some data tables may best be viewed on desktop.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers 2715 and 5026.
Previous release: Aircraft movement and civil aviation statistics, September 2024.
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).