YYC Calgary International Airport: Surges to Record 19.4M Passengers

CALGARY, AB — YYC Calgary International Airport just closed the books on its busiest year ever: 19.4 million passenger journeys in 2025, blowing past the previous record of 18.9 million set in 2024. That's half a million more bodies through the terminals, and the fourth consecutive year of growth for the airport that bills itself as the economic engine of the province.

The milestone comes as travellers are now paying more to use the facility. The Airport Improvement Fee jumped from $35 to $40 per departing passenger on January 1, funding what the Calgary Airport Authority calls "infrastructure and capacity expansion." Translation: More gates, smoother security, and the kind of upgrades needed when you're suddenly processing over two million passengers per month—a feat YYC hit for the first time in July and August 2025.

The Expansion Play

CEO Chris Dinsdale's team isn't sitting still. Last year, YYC added 15 new routes, bringing the total non-stop destination count to 108. This January, the airport announced two headline-grabbers for 2026: WestJet to São Paolo, Brazil, and Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Alberta's Minister of Tourism and Sport, Andrew Boitchenko, praised the economic upside of the new international links, with Tourism Calgary projecting $61 million in economic impact for Q1 2026 alone.

The airport doesn't take government money—it runs on passenger fees. That model paid off in the first half of 2025, when total revenues climbed 3.8 percent to $247.9 million. A $120 million engine maintenance facility partnership with Lufthansa Technik, announced in Q1 2025, signals long-term confidence in YYC as a hub for more than just passengers.

The Transit Gap

Here's the friction: While YYC is soaring, Calgary Transit is fighting for oxygen. Director Sharon Fleming's operation carried over 101 million trips in 2024—a 12 percent jump from 2023—but the agency's 2026 budget includes a $59 million adjustment, with only $14 million earmarked to increase frequency on key routes. The "RouteAhead" strategy, designed to modernize the system, is underfunded by $45 million for buses in 2027.

The Calgary Airport Rail Connection Study wrapped its final technical report in Q1 2025, identifying optimal rail links between downtown and YYC. But no shovels are in the ground yet, and passengers are still relying on a transit system that can't keep pace with the airport's record-breaking trajectory.

What It Means

For travellers, expect busier terminals and a higher exit fee. For the city, the passenger surge is a revenue win and a logistical headache. YYC's growth underscores Calgary's appeal as a business and tourism gateway, but the disconnect between airport expansion and public transit investment is becoming harder to ignore. The next question: Can the infrastructure catch up before the crowds do?

The Calgary Airport Authority has not yet released detailed projections for 2026 passenger totals.