Travellers take to skies above Waterloo region in record numbers, new data shows
Region says 18% increase in passenger numbers means another record-breaking year for airport
The Region of Waterloo International Airport saw 445,312 passengers walk through its gates in 2023, an 18 per cent increase over 2022, the region says.
The region says this is a record-breaking number of passengers and commercial service is largely the reason for the increase in numbers.
Regional Chair Karen Redman said in a release on Wednesday that the region's investment to grow the airport is the reason for its success.
"This increased growth reinforces our work on the 20-year airport master plan which guides development at YKF. The airport is a key piece of infrastructure and an economic driver for Waterloo region," Redman said. YKF is the airport code for the region's airport.
The region says the airport's expansion project aims to be able to support up to a million passengers a year.
In 2023, the airport saw the air terminal building reconfigured and that included adding self-serve kiosks, airline counters, a third security line and a new baggage system.
In the coming months, the airport will see administration offices relocated to the airport operations centre and the second-floor terminal offices will be taken over by the Canada Border Services Agency. The space currently used by the CBSA on the main floor will become a primary inspection line for passengers returning to the country.
Flair Airlines, Sunwing and WestJet fly out of the Region of Waterloo International Airport and have destinations throughout Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Currently travellers can fly to Calgary, Cancun, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando Sanford, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Vancouver and Varadero.
This summer, flights will be added to Abbotsford, Charlottetown, Deer Lake, Halifax, Edmonton, St. Johns and Winnipeg