Calgary airport preps for busy summer, warns of increased security during G7

Calgary airport officials expect a bump in the number of people flying through the airport this summer despite the U.S. tariff situation continuing to impact tourism.

The Calgary Airport Authority is gearing up for an even busier season in 2025 with several major events coming to the area, including this month’s G7 Summit and the Rotary Club’s International Convention.

About 5.8 million passengers are expected to fly through Calgary International Airport in June, July, and August. The airport authority is predicting around 67,000 passengers a day — up from about 64,000 last year.

Airport COO Chris Miles says it’s around three-and-a-half times the capacity of the Saddledome that will be coming through the airport on a daily basis.

“We’re still showing growth in spite of some of the challenges we’ve had with the U.S. market,” he says. “We’re still expecting a record year for 2025.”

Miles says they are still seeing a lot of Canadians travelling within the country and international routes coming through the airport, whether it be through to Asia or Europe, are still performing strongly.

“The inbound tourism is really strong coming into Calgary,” he says.

If the airport does have a record year, Miles says it will be in part due to expanding routes to Japan and South Korea.

“We’ve doubled the amount of tourism from those two countries just with the launch of those routes.”

To keep things flowing smoothly, officials are asking travellers to arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures.

Increased security before, during G7

The airport is also getting ready to ramp up security for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis.

“You will see officers walking around the terminal, you’ll see officers in an around the perimeter of the airport,” says Miles.

The security effort will include a crack down on vehicles left unattended in the drop-off area. It’s a rule that already exists, but there will be a zero tolerance policy before and during the G7.

And for those hoping to see planes carrying world leaders, the airport says they need to stay on public property.

“You will not be allowed to stop on the perimeter fence,” says Miles. “But if you’re in the publicly accessible areas, than that’s the sport that you’ll actually be allowed to see the planes coming in.”

The G7 runs from June 15 to June 17.

With files from Jillian Code