Canada’s Worst (and Best) Airports

A recent study compiled Google reviews of 35 Canadian airports to determine which are Canada’s worst and best airport experiences. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto Pearson (YYZ) ranked lowest. Passengers complained about congestion and long security lines, things that may be unavoidable at an airport that hosts approximately 30 percent of our nation’s air passenger traffic. Pearson is currently undergoing a $1.5 billion upgrade as projections anticipate passenger volume could balloon to 65 million travellers by the early 2030s.

Two of Canada’s other large airports were also included in the top 10 worst: Montreal-Trudeau (YUL) and WestJet’s hub at Calgary International (YYC). Vancouver International managed to grab a spot in the top 10 best, coming in at number eight.

Overall, smaller airports tended to make up the best. “​Reading the reviews at the bottom, the complaints are about the whole trip, not just the flight. They mention lineups at security and customs, construction, chaos at the pickup lanes and paying a fortune for a sandwich. The smaller airports win because you’re through security in minutes,” says Olivia Weston, founder of SEO Backlinks, the analytics company that conducted the research.

At the top? The little airport made famous during the 9/11 tragedy, Gander International, took the top spot. Billy Bishop in Toronto ranked number two, and another Newfoundland and Labrador airport, Deer Lake, rounded out the top spots. 

Related: 25 Years After 9/11, Operation Yellow Ribbon Has a Message the World Needs Again

Each airport was ranked by its exact average rating, worked out from its count of one, two, three, four and five-star reviews. 

The rank of the worst airports and their average stars were as follows: 

1. Toronto Pearson International Airport, ON: 3.76 
2. Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, QC: 3.78

3. Prince George International Airport, BC: 3.80 

4. Yellowknife Airport, NT: 3.95

5. Northwest Regional Airport Terrace-Kitimat, BC: 4.03 

6. Grande Prairie Airport, AB: 4.04 

7. Abbotsford International Airport, BC: 4.05 

8. Kelowna International Airport, BC: 4.08 

9. Calgary International Airport, AB: 4.08 

10. Fort McMurray International Airport, AB: 4.08 

Best airports rank as follows:

1. Gander International Airport, NL: 4.50 
2. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, ON: 4.44 

3. Deer Lake Regional Airport, NL: 4.41

4. Comox Valley Airport, BC: 4.35 

5. Saint John Airport, NB: 4.34 

6. Halifax Stanfield International Airport, NS: 4.33

7. Nanaimo Airport, BC: 4.31 

8. Vancouver International Airport, BC: 4.29 

9. Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, MB: 4.28

10. Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, QC: 4.28

 

Related: Skip the Chaos: Why Canada’s Smaller Airports Are Gaining Ground

 

 

Topics From This Article to Explore