Calgary to 'welcome the world' as airport expects more than 5.8M travellers this summer

Calgarians can expect the city to be especially busy this summer.

The Calgary Airport Authority announced on Tuesday that it expects more than 5.8 million travellers to go through the Calgary International Airport this summer.

That's an average of 67,000 passengers a day, or "effectively the equivalent of three-and-a-half Saddledomes coming through the terminal every single day" from June to August, said Chris Miles, chief operating officer of the airport authority.

The increased travel over the next three months can be chalked up to major events happening in the Calgary area this summer, including the G7, Rotary International Convention and Calgary Stampede.

"Calgary is really ready to welcome the world," said Miles.

The G7 leaders' summit will bring world leaders, along with thousands of delegates and journalists, to Kananaskis from June 15 to 17.

One of the goals for the G7 is "highlighting what Calgary has to offer so that those delegates go back and really advocate for what Calgary has to offer," said Miles.

Shortly after the G7, more than 15,000 members of the Rotary Club from around the world are set to attend the Rotary International Convention from June 21 to 25.

July 4 to 13 marks the annual return of the Calgary Stampede. Last year's event set a new attendance record with 1,477,953 visits.

Miles said planning for this year's busy summer at the airport has been underway since November 2024, with partners like the Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority and Nav Canada involved in the months-long planning process.

Expect tighter airport security for G7

Guests should prepare for an increased security presence at the airport before, during and after the G7 summit, "particularly at curbside and around our roads around the airport," said Miles.

"There will be absolutely zero tolerance for unattended vehicles on the curb," he said. The airport's policy on unattended vehicles is always in place, but will be subject to "enhanced enforcement" due to the G7.

While there will be a noticeable increase in security, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority chief Deanna Manson said there won't be any significant impact on visitors at the Calgary airport.

"We have been planning extensively with our partners and have procedures in place so that welcoming the delegates does not interfere with the average traveller coming through the airport," she said.