Highlights
In December, 4.8 million passengers passed through pre-board security screening at checkpoints operated at Canada's eight largest airports, 8.1% higher than in December 2023 and 4.3% above the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level in December 2019.
In 2024, there were a total of 57.0 million passengers screened at Canada's top airports, 5.8% higher than in 2023 and 2.7% more than the level reported in 2019.
Chart 1: Number of screened passengers at the eight largest airports in Canada by sector, December, 2019 to 2024
Description - Chart 1
Data table: Number of screened passengers at the eight largest airports in Canada by sector, December, 2019 to 2024
Source: Table 23-10-0312-01.
Domestic traffic recovery continues
For the second consecutive month, domestic screened passengers posted a sharp year-over-year increase, up 11.6% in December. In addition, total domestic traffic volume in December topped the pre-pandemic level from December 2019 by 2.1%.
Transborder (to the United States) traffic was strong in December 2024; it was 7.3% higher than in December 2023 and marginally above (+0.2%) the December 2019 level.
In December 2024, the number of passengers screened for international flights (outside the United States) increased 4.3% over December 2023 and exceeded the December 2019 level by 11.3%.
Traffic up at all airports during busy holiday season
In December 2024, all of Canada's eight largest airports experienced higher year-over-year total screened passenger volumes, with six airports posting double-digit increases.
Domestic passenger traffic surged 17.0% year-over-year at Vancouver International in December, as the city hosted a series of high-profile concerts.
Chart 2: Number of screened passengers at the eight largest airports in Canada, monthly, 2019 to 2024
Description - Chart 2
Data table: Number of screened passengers at the eight largest airports in Canada, monthly, 2019 to 2024
Source: Table 23-10-0312-01.
Year in review
In 2024, international (outside the United States) screened passenger counts were 10.8% higher than in 2023, with the rise felt across all airports. Moreover, this sector led the post-pandemic recovery, with passenger counts increasing by 8.1% from 2019 to 2024 .
Similarly, transborder (to the United States) screened passenger traffic grew 11.0% in 2024 from 2023, with all airports posting increases. However, the transborder passenger traffic in 2024 marked a modest uptick (+1.0%) compared with 2019.
Meanwhile, domestic passenger traffic in 2024 was unchanged year-over-year, albeit at a level that was marginally higher (+0.5%) than during pre-pandemic 2019.
Recovery uneven among airports
While all of Canada's eight largest airports experienced higher year-over-year screened passenger volumes in 2024, Halifax/Robert L. Stanfield International (+9.9%) and Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International (+8.6%) airports led the pack.
Overall, four of the top eight airports posted screened passenger volumes in 2024 that surpassed their respective 2019 pre-pandemic levels: Calgary International (+11.8%), Halifax/Robert L. Stanfield International (+8.4%), Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (+8.2%) and Vancouver International (+2.7%).
In 2024, screened passenger counts at Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International, Canada's busiest airport, remained marginally below (-0.1%) the 2019 level.
Note to readers
Data for this release are derived from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) Boarding Pass Security System and include screened traffic at pre-board security screening checkpoints at the eight largest airports in Canada.
The eight largest airports in Canada are Halifax/Robert L. Stanfield International, Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International, Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International, Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International, Winnipeg/James Armstrong Richardson International, Calgary International, Edmonton International and Vancouver International.
Screened passenger traffic includes air travellers required to go through pre-board security screening and excludes aircrew and airport employees. This data series represents a different measure of traffic than the counts of enplaned or deplaned passengers published in Statistics Canada's annual Airport activity report or produced by the individual airports. For example, the screened passenger data will not account for passengers with connecting flights who did not pass through security. For more information, please refer to the "Related information" tab (Definitions, data sources and methods) for this release.
Users interested in accessing daily counts of screened traffic at Canada's major airports can obtain them from the CATSA website.
Reference
Data table: 23-10-0312-01.
- Note: some data tables may best be viewed on desktop.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5404.
Previous release: Screened passenger traffic at Canadian airports, November 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).