Record number of passengers travelled through Waterloo region's airport last year
Passenger traffic at YKF increased by almost 19% last year
Over half a million people moved through the Region of Waterloo International Airport in 2024.
The latest statistics from the Region of Waterloo says 523,210 passengers travelled through the airport in 2024 for a 17.9 per cent increase over 2023.
Included in those numbers was record-breaking August, when 82,531 passengers travelled through the airport on Flair, WestJet and Air Canada flights.
That number represents "more passengers than the airport had in the entire years of 2018, 2019 or 2020," the region says.
It's a far cry from 2019, when only 80,000 people journeyed through YKF. Flash forward to the end of 2023 and the latest numbers represent at 554 per cent increase.
'Important gateway to the world'
"The Region of Waterloo International Airport continues to be an important gateway to the world and a key driver of our region's economy," said Karen Redman, chair of the region.
"Record passenger numbers in 2024 were made possible by strong partnerships and continuous improvement in airport operations and services. We're excited to build on this momentum with new opportunities that will further enhance the airport's role as a vital hub for travel, business, and growth in 2025 and beyond."
YKF ranks as one of the top 20 busiest airports in the country.
Its latest expansion allows the airport to accommodate up to one million travellers a year.
In the summer of 2025, there will be return flights from Abbotsford and Edmonton, with continued trips to Calgary, Cancun, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Halifax and Vancouver.
As well, Air Canada offers Landline Company services from the region's airport to connecting flights through Toronto's airport.