Calgary International Airport sets daily passenger departure record

More people than ever hopped on a plane and headed out of town in July.

Calgary International Airport (YYC) set a new daily passenger departure record of more than 27,600 on July 16, the Calgary Airport Authority said Monday.

President and CEO of YYC Bob Sartore chalks the sky-high figure up to a number of factors, explaining there are more flights and air carriers, including two low-cost airlines that have landed at the airport since the pandemic.

The airport’s hub carrier, WestJet, also pulled a significant amount of traffic, according to Sartore, in part due to it’s transcontinental offerings out of YYC.

“I think the other driver as well was, is for two years, people effectively were asked to stay home and really not do things,” he said. “A lot of people actually saved that vacation money, and that’s what they’re doing now; they’re taking those holidays, going to see loved ones in other parts of the country or other countries.”

Sartore says the 15 busiest days in YYC’s history were recorded in the last 24 days.

“It’s pretty exciting, and we’re thrilled,” he said.

“It’s not just the people who are leaving, it’s the combination people who are leaving people who are arriving, and people who are connecting,” he explained.

On the record-setting day that saw more than 27,000 people flying out, Sartore says a chunk of those were from connections. He says about 40 per cent of YYC’s business is connecting flights.

To prepare for the volume of people at the airport, the president and CEO said once an expected daily number of flyers is known, advisories are sent to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, so that everyone is prepared.

“It really is teamwork at play,” Sartore said. “Even though we don’t control those, we need to make sure we give them the data that they need to also manage the traffic.”

He adds that so far, YYC is doing well in managing the significant number of visitors to its facility.

Lots of people are headed out to Europe, according to Sartore, including Barcelona, Paris, Rome. London, Gatwick, London, Heathrow, Dublin, and Edinburgh.

As for ensuring your flight is smooth sailing, he advises arriving at least an hour and a half to three hours early for an international trip to leave time to get through customers, passenger screening and security.

Flyers can also sign on to YYC Express, he said, to book a specific time to go through screening using a QR code.

“And all you need to do is show it to the folks and you’ll go to the front of the line, because you’ve reserved,” Sartore said.

He also says travellers should check the airport or airline’s website to ensure their flight is on time while they’re still at home or on their way to the airport.

August is typically a busy month for YYC, the CEO says, and on the heels of a record-setting July, Sartore is expecting nothing short of soaring figures.

“I’m excited to see what’s going to happen in August. I think will be extremely busy as well,” he said.

-With files from Tiffany Goodwein