Air transportation in Canada - statistics & facts

Air transportation in Canada comprises of local, regional, national and international airlines which transport passengers and cargo to destinations both domestically and around the world. In 2020, there were 559 air carriers with licenses in Canada. The Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) regulates and oversees the safety of the country’s air transportation system.

Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the Canadian aviation industry

With a 71 percent decrease in traffic and 68 percent loss in operating revenue, the coronavirus pandemic greatly impacted the Canadian aviation industry. The total number of passengers boarded by Canadian airlines dropped by 71 percent and reached only 24.7 millions in 2020. In that same year, Canadian airlines flew 64 percent less hours. Loaded and unloaded air cargo volume stood at 1.36 million metric tons in 2019.

Leading airlines in Canada

In 2020, many of the domestic airlines in Canada like Air Canada, were on the brink of collapse after the coronavirus pandemic hit. In that year, Air Canada, which had a 44 percent market share of the domestic sector, generated only 4.3 billion Canadian dollars in operating revenue from passenger flights. Passenger traffic dropped by more than 73 percent, which urged Air Canada to reduce its capacity by over 66 percent.

Leading airports in Canada

With less air passenger travel, the coronavirus pandemic has hit airports too. Toronto Pearson International Airport was still the busiest airport in Canada but carried only 13.3 million passengers in 2020. Other leading Canadian airports like Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton International Airports were affected too. Vancouver's domestic passenger traffic was reduced from 12.7 million passengers in 2019 to only 4.2 million passengers in 2020.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Apr 2, 2025

Key insights

Number of Canadian air carriers
532
Air passenger traffic in Canada
79.6m
City with the lowest average domestic airfare
Calgary
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Current statistics on this topic

Number of passengers carried by Air Canada from 2011 to 2023 (in millions)

Passenger Air Transport

Passenger traffic - Air Canada 2011-2023

Revenue of Air Canada from 2013 to 2023, by segment (in million Canadian dollars)

Aviation

Air Canada revenue 2013-2023

Leading airports in Canada in 2020, by cargo traffic (in 1,000 metric tons)

Aviation

Largest airports in Canada, by cargo traffic 2020

Recommended statistics

Overview

5

Overview

  • Premium Statistic Canadian scheduled air transportation market size 2018-2021
  • Basic Statistic Air carriers in Canada by nationality and number of licenses 2011-2023
  • Premium Statistic Operating revenue of Canadian airlines 2015-2023
  • Basic Statistic Passengers boarded by the largest Canadian air carriers 1990-2023
  • Premium Statistic Canadian airlines - flight hours 1990-2023

Segments

7

Segments

Airline companies

9

Airline companies

Airports

6

Airports

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