It was a busy 2023 for Canada’s first and third largest airports. Passenger traffic at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) was up 25.8% to 44.8 million in 2023, while Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) saw an even larger percentage increase, with passenger traffic of 21.2 million, up 32.5% from 2022.
"In 2023, travel activity was robust with nearly 45 million passengers at Toronto Pearson International Airport," said Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority. "Our 10-year strategic plan underpins necessary infrastructure reinvestment and revitalization that will make Toronto Pearson a global leader in airport performance, customer care, and sustainability."
Toronto Pearson hosted nearly 45 million passengers in 2023. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, says it is clear that the airport has fully resumed its role as a major hub for international air travel.
"The year 2023 ended with YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport surpassing its pre-pandemic results and recording the strongest growth of any major Canadian airport by welcoming 21.2 million passengers for the first time ever in its facilities.”
The GTAA said the big increase in traffic stems from “strong travel demand and the travel industry partners' ability to deliver more consistent levels of service following recovery challenges in 2022.
Toronto Pearson hosted nearly 45 million passengers in 2023. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Toronto Pearson is still recovering from the pandemic. During 2023, passenger activity recovered to 88.9% compared to 2019 passenger activity. In December 2023, passenger activity recovered to 93.7% of December 2019 passenger activity.
“We are also proud to regain our ranking in the Forbes List of Best Employers in 2024 and to be ranked first in the Airport Service Quality Award for Best Airport over 40 Million Passengers in North America,” said Flint.
Montreal’s YUL has already surpassed pre-COVID numbers. Passenger traffic totalled 5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up 14.9% from 2022, or 108.9% of the traffic in the corresponding period of 2019. Of particular note was the sustained growth of the transborder and international sectors, with fourth-quarter traffic levels of 108.6% and 125.1%, respectively, of 2019 levels.
"We are delighted to welcome such a large number of passengers to YUL and to offer them so many opportunities to connect with the four corners of the globe. This record traffic has prompted us to pick up the pace and quickly implement improvements to accessing the airport and thereby enhance the passenger experience,” said Beauchamp.
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