Jump to content

Calgary International Airport

Coordinates: 51°07′21″N 114°00′48″W / 51.12250°N 114.01333°W / 51.12250; -114.01333
This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Calgary Airport" redirects here. For other airports in Calgary, see List of airports in the Calgary area.

YYC Calgary International Airport
Aerial view of the airport in 2022
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerTransport Canada
OperatorCalgary Airport Authority
Opened1939; 85 years ago (1939)
Hub forWestJet
Focus city forAir Canada
Operating base forFlair Airlines
Time zoneMST (UTC−07:00)
 • Summer (DST)MDT (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL3,606 ft / 1,099 m
Coordinates51°07′21″N 114°00′48″W / 51.12250°N 114.01333°W / 51.12250; -114.01333
Public transit accessCalgary Transit  300   100 
Websitewww.yyc.com
Map
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11/29 8,000 2,438 Asphalt
17R/35L 12,675 3,863 Asphalt
17L/35R 14,000 4,267 Concrete
Statistics (2023)
Passengers18,490,283
Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[1]
AIP Canada Supplement[2]
F Trudeau Environment Canada[3][4]

Calgary International Airport (IATA: YYC, ICAO: CYYC), branded as YYC Calgary International Airport, is an international airport that serves the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of downtown and covers an area of 20.82 square kilometres (8.04 sq mi; 5,144 acres; 2,082 ha).[5] With 18.5 million passengers in 2023 and 124,108 aircraft movements in 2021, Calgary International is the busiest airport in Alberta and the fourth-busiest in Canada by passenger traffic.[6][7][8] This airport is served by the Calgary International Airport Emergency Response Service for aircraft rescue and firefighting protection. The region's petroleum and tourism industries (including proximity to Banff National Park) have helped foster growth at the airport, which has nonstop flights to an array of destinations in North and Central America, Europe, and Asia. Calgary serves as the headquarters and primary hub for WestJet.[9][10]

Built in the late 1930s, the site has since grown to house: 71 gates at minimum (depending on airplane type), three runways[2] and two terminal buildings with six concourses for passengers (Gates A1-6, A12-24, B31-40, C50-65, D70-79 and E80-97), warehouses for cargo handling, and other infrastructure. The Calgary Airport Authority operates the property while paying rent to the federal government. Close to the airport are the Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail freeways for transport into the city and surrounding area, and public transit also serves the airport.

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

The first airport to serve Calgary opened in 1914, in the neighbourhood of Bowness. It occupied one-square kilometre (0.39 sq mi) and consisted of a hut and a grass runway.[11][12] The site is now the location of a community centre (The Landing)[13] as well as Bowness High School and Bowglen Park.[citation needed]

Operations shifted to a new airport southwest of the city in 1928, named Old Banff Coach Road Airport (51°02′55.7″N 114°09′09.8″W / 51.048806°N 114.152722°W / 51.048806; -114.152722).[14] However, issues with turbulence in the area prompted another airfield to be built the following year in the neighbourhood of Renfrew known as the Calgary Municipal Airport[12] or Stanley Jones Airport.[15] The local airline Renfew Air Service constructed the Rutledge Hangar at the Renfrew site (6th Street and Regal Crescent) in 1929,[15] a lamella arch structure composed of Douglas Fir planks on a reinforced concrete base. The Renfew Air Service folded in November 1931 as a result of the Great Depression,[15] and ownership of the Rutledge Hangar was taken over by the Edmonton Credit Corporation who subsequently lease the hangar to the City of Calgary. The RCAF used the airport in the 1940s. The Rutledge Hangar remains standing at the original Renfew site by Boys and Girls Club of Calgary and was designated an Alberta Provincial Historic Resource on 5 May 2003.[15]

Present site and World War II

[edit]

As the City of Calgary grew to surround the Renfrew airport site the municipal government decided to relocate the airport to a new location. The city purchased an area of land north of Calgary in 1938 for about $31,000; and remains the site of Calgary's current airport. The city came to an agreement with Trans-Canada Air Lines to construct and lease a hangar on the site for $45,000 (equivalent to $918,117 in 2023),[16] and the federal Department of Transportation financed the construction of three runways and other improvements, the first of which opened on 25 September.[16][17] The new Calgary airfield was named McCall Field after First World War ace and lifelong Calgarian Fred McCall.[11][18]

As a result of Canada entering the Second World War, the federal government assumed control of McCall Field in 1940, re-purposing it as a fuel and maintenance stop for aircraft involved in the war effort and later stationing the No. 37 Service Flying Training School at the airfield from 22 October 1941 until its closure on 10 March 1944.[19] McCall Field continued to operate regular passenger flights during the Second World War.[11][12]

Following the end of the Second World War, the airport had been expanded to include additional hangars, four runways and other infrastructure.[11] The City of Calgary resumed management of McCall Field in 1946, repurposed the a hangar as a passenger terminal, and convinced the federal government to extend the airports 4,125 ft (1,257 m) east–west runway to 6,200 feet (1,900 m) in October 1949 at an estimated cost of $750,000 the construction required a 5 foot (1.5 m) excavation below grade to prevent frost heaving.[20] At the time of completion, McCall Field's east–west runway was the third-longest runway in Alberta behind the Calgary Airport's north–south runway and the runway at CFB Namao.[21][12]

1950s and 1960s: Terminal expansion and jet age

[edit]

The re-purposed military hangars did not meet the needs of the growing transportation needs of the city, and efforts were made by city officials to secure funding for a new passenger terminal. A new passenger terminal was constructed in 1956; its design originated in the 1950s as a thesis project by Provincial Institute of Technology and Art architecture student Ken Bond, who later formed the architectural firm Clayton, Bond and Mogridge, which was awarded the contract for designing the new terminal.[22] The one-million dollar project featured an open public concourse, and ticketing offices for three airlines was dubbed one of the most modern air terminals in Canada when it opened on 2 June 1956.[22] A lavish opening ceremony was attended by federal Transportation Minister George C. Marler, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta John J. Bowlen, and Mayor Donald Hugh Mackay, and a number of other dignitaries.[23] The festivities included an air show featuring an Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck.[22][11][12] Following construction of the new passenger terminal, McCall Field would see 110,984 passenger arrivals, 96,287 departures and nearly 1,000,000 pounds (450,000 kg) of cargo through the airport in 1957.[24]

In the 1960s Calgary City Council began lobbying the federal government to designate McCall Field as an "international airport", a status defined by the Department of Transportation. As a compromise on 6 April 1962, the federal government approved naming the airport terminal Calgary International Airport from Calgary Municipal Airport. However, Mayor Harry Hays, local aldermen and residents continued to refer to the airport in general as McCall Field.[25] Calgary International Airport did not receive official "International" status from the federal government until 1969.[26] The first non-stop transatlantic flights were scheduled by Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1961, connecting Calgary with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and more flights from Europe commenced the following year.[27]

The jet age arrived shortly after the construction of Calgary's new passenger terminal. The terminal was not designed with jet aircraft in mind, and the airport's runways were not suitable for the larger and faster aircraft. In 1961 the airport replaced the diagonal runway with an 8,000 feet (2,400 m) runway capable of handling modern jet aircraft.[28] In 1963 the airport underwent a $4-million refurbishment which saw improved electronic landing aids, and the main north–south runway extended by 4,675 feet (1,425 m) to its present length of 12,675 feet (3,863 m).[29]

The City of Calgary was unable to afford the continued upgrades the Calgary Municipal Airport necessary to cope with the rising aircraft traffic.[11][12] The city proceeded to sell the Calgary Municipal Airport to the federal government in 1966 for $2 million, and the Department of Transportation proceeded to refurbish the runways shortly afterwards.[11]

1970s: Terminal and hub status

[edit]

The new passenger terminal constructed in 1956 proved to only temporarily meet the needs of the city, and was inadequate for expansion or facilitating jet aircraft servicing. Following the sale of the Calgary International Airport by the City of Calgary to the Government of Canada in 1966, plans were put in motion to build a new passenger terminal. The airport's sale came with a promise by Federal Transportation Minister Jack Pickersgill that the federal government would build a $20-million passenger terminal within five years; however, continued delays pushed completion of the terminal to 1977.[30]

Construction began on the new passenger terminal in 1972, construction would be delayed due to re-designs to meet increased air traffic needs, causing the price of the new terminal to grow well beyond the original $20-million figure.[30] Finally, on 12 October 1977, the new $130-million (equivalent to $1,006-million in 2023), 600,000 square feet (56,000 m2) terminal was opened by Mayor Rod Sykes, Provincial Transportation Minister Hugh Horner, and Federal Transportation Minister Otto Lang two months before construction had completed.[31] Sykes was able to leverage his friendship with Lord Mountbatten to convince British Airways to have one of the newly introduced Concorde land in Calgary on the day,[31] and although the jet showed up a day late due to mechanical issues, it was still quite the coup for a city of less than half a million residents.[32] Among other festivities for the opening event included flyovers by a Boeing 747, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, and the Canadian Air Force Snowbirds.[31] The 1977 passenger terminal remains the core of Calgary International Airport's domestic terminal to this day.[11][12]

The Jumbo Jet age arrived in Calgary with the newly introduced Boeing 747 landing for the first time in 1973, with Wardair providing non-stop bi-weekly charter service from Calgary to London.[33] Air Canada was not far behind, and began non-stop service to London using the 747 starting on 27 June 1974.[34] In April 1974, Calgary International Airport hosted CP Air's flight testing for the Boeing 747 after airport firefighters went on strike at both Vancouver International Airport and Toronto Pearson Airport.[35]

In 1974 the Government of Alberta acquired ownership of Pacific Western Airlines, Canada's third largest airline at the time and move the head office and hub to Calgary.[36] The airline continued under provincial government ownership until 1983,[36] and later merged with Canadian Pacific Air Lines to form Canadian Airlines. Canadian Airlines maintained Calgary as the hub and headquarters for the airline[37] until it was acquired by Air Canada in 2001.[38]

1990s: Reorganization and WestJet

[edit]

In the early 1990s, the Government of Canada introduced the National Airports Policy which moved towards privatization, liberalization and economic deregulation of air transportation, which included the formation of a local airport authority under the name Calgary Airport Authority in 1992 for the management, operation and development of the Calgary International Airport[39] under lease from the federal government.[11][40] The Calgary Airport Authority, incorporated in July 1990 is a non-share capital, not-for-profit corporation formed under the authority of Alberta's Regional Airports Authorities Act.[41] The Calgary Airport Authority signed a long-term 60-year lease with an additional 20-year option, which was subsequently exercised in 2011.[41]

The WestJet campus is located at the airport.

In 1992, Calgary International Airport opened a new air traffic control tower at the southern end of Aero Drive. The control tower when completed was 44 metres (144 ft) tall with 38 square metres (410 sq ft) of office room,[42] and was designed with the knowledge that it would not provide the necessary line of sight to the expanded east airfield.[43]

In February 1996, WestJet, which began as a low-cost carrier began operations with a base of operations at Calgary International, occupying an expanded area of the terminal.[12][44] The airline's first flight, a Boeing 737 departed Calgary International on route to Vancouver International Airport on 29 February 1996.[45]

Operation Yellow Ribbon

[edit]

During the September 11, 2001 attacks 13 international flights destined for the United States were diverted to Calgary International Airport as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. The operation was a joint effort between NAV Canada and Transport Canada in communication with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which facilitated the grounding of potentially destructive air traffic.[46]

2000s: Runway and new terminal

[edit]

The Calgary Airport Authority began analyzing the facility's air capacity in the late 1990s, and found the airport could reach its maximum capacity as early as 2006. The Airport Authority and NAV Canada made a number of changes to airport operations in the 2000s to improve the efficiency and capacity of the facility, but by 2008, with a number of changes made, NAV Canada reported the airfield would begin to exceed its practical capacity.[47] The Calgary Airport Authority planned and under the "Airport Development Program", a major development program aimed at improving the capacity and quality of the airport, which included the construction of a new runway, air traffic control tower and passenger terminal.[citation needed]

On 25 May 2013, the new Air Traffic Control Tower opened at Calgary International Airport. The one-year, $25-million (equivalent to $32-million) project came in advance of the airport's new runway, and at 91 m (300 ft), the tower was the tallest free-standing control tower in Canada.[48] The airport's previous 50 m (165 ft) control tower was demolished in October 2014.[42]

The Calgary Airport Authority initiated the Parallel Runway Project, a $620-million (equivalent to $778-million) project to assess and construct a new runway, which led to the construction of the 14,000 feet (4,300 m) runway 17L/35R beginning in April 2011. Upon its completion on 28 June 2014, runway 17L/35R became the longest runway in Canada.[49] During the construction of the runway, a $295-million (equivalent to $370-million), 620 m (2,030 ft), six-lane roadway tunnel was constructed underneath the runway to connect Barlow Trail to 36th Street N.E.[50] and now, to the edge of the city at the major freeway of Stoney Trail, Calgary's "Ring Road." The decision for Calgary City Council on whether to construct the tunnel while the runway was being constructed, or wait until a later date was a major issue during the 2010 Calgary municipal election.[51]

The Airport Authority addressed cargo capacity through the construction of a 30,000 sq ft (2,800 m2) cargo facility in 2015 followed by a 100,000 sq ft (9,300 m2) facility constructed in 2016.[52]

The final stage of the Calgary Airport Authority's Airport Development Program was the construction of a new $1.6-billion (equivalent to $1.96-billion) international terminal.[12][53] Officially opened on 31 October 2016, the international terminal 186,000 square metres (2,000,000 sq ft) facility added 24 new aircraft gates, North America's first call-to-gate passenger boarding system, CATSA Plus enhanced passenger screening system, moving walkways and electric concourse connection tram system.[54] The international terminal was designed with several sustainable principles including 581 geothermal wells for heating and cooling, and an annual rainwater capture capacity of 800,000 litres (180,000 imp gal).[52]

In October 2016, Transport Canada officially renamed Calgary International Airport to "YYC Calgary International Airport", affixing the "YYC" IATA code to the airport's name.[55]

YYC in April 2020

In 2020, after several months of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of Alberta and Canada announced a new program to enable certain travellers to enter Canada more easily. Canadian citizens and essential workers entering Canada at Calgary, as well as at the Sweetgrass–Coutts Border Crossing, can be tested for the virus and, if they test negative, will be allowed to quarantine for only 48 hours instead of the usual 14 days.[56]

On August 5, 2024, a hailstorm damaged the airport and numerous WestJet aircraft, but there were no injuries. While the other damaged areas of the airport were repaired promptly, Concourse B and its gates (gates 31-40) will be closed for at least 18 months, but this will not impact airport operations.[57][58]

Inside the domestic terminal

Infrastructure

[edit]

Passenger terminals

[edit]
Inside the new US and international terminal
Concourse D at Calgary International Airport

The Calgary International Airport houses two passenger terminals, one for domestic flights and the other for United States and international flights.

The four-storey Domestic Terminal was originally opened in 1977 and has undergone a number of renovations in the decades following. The ground level of the terminal serves as the arrivals area with baggage claim and transportation facilities present. The second level of the terminal serves as the departures level and includes airport check-in, security and access to departure gates. The basement level of the airport contains utilities and tenant storage while the mezzanine level contains a food court, airline offices and the airport authority offices. The Domestic Terminal has four concourses: Concourses A1, A2, B, and C. All A, B and C gates are shared between domestic airlines such as Air Canada and Westjet (and their subsidiaries) predominantly, as well as Flair Airlines, Air North, Air Transat and Porter Airlines. Westjet primarily uses A gates, Air Canada flights primarily use C gates, and B gates are used by all airlines. Concourse A1 includes departure gates A1-A6 (used for WestJet regional non-jet flights); Concourse A2 includes gates A11-A24; Concourse B includes departure gates B31-B40; and Concourse C includes departure gates C50-C65.[59]

The International Terminal was originally opened on 31 October 2016 and consists of five levels; utilities and baggage processing in the basement. Arrivals meet and greet areas, Canada Customs and relevant infrastructure on the ground level with departure check-in, security, US customs and the international departures concourse being located on the second floor. The third level contains the USA departures concourse and finally, the mezzanine level contains the international departures lounges. The International Terminal includes gates 70 through 97 shared across two concourses: Concourse D for all flights to and from foreign countries except the US as well as domestic flights; and Concourse E for flights to and from the United States.[60] For the International Terminal, passengers travelling to the United States clear customs and immigration prior to departure at the preclearance facility.[61][62]

YYC Link shuttle

The Domestic Terminal is connected to the International Terminal by a 620-metre walkway corridor and path for the YYC Link Passengers Shuttles; twenty ten-seat electric vehicles used to transport connecting passengers.[59][53]

WestJet, headquartered in Calgary and for which Calgary is the hub, has criticized the design of the international terminal, which opened in 2016. The airline's CEO stated that the distance between the terminals was too long for connecting travellers and that YYC Link was insufficient to solve this problem. As a result, WestJet had to alter its schedules in order to allow additional time for passengers transiting through Calgary.[63][64] The Calgary Airport Authority responded that it did not see issues with the connections process, although it said passengers would need some time to adjust to the new facilities.[63]

Runways

[edit]
Aerial view of runway layout, 2021. Runway 08/26 (now a taxiway) runs horizontally near bottom of image; 11/29 is diagonal left of center; 17R/35L is vertical left of image centre; and 17L/35R is vertical at right side of image. Numerous taxiways connect to the passenger terminals toward top-right, cargo terminals and other aviation facilities.

Calgary International Airport consists of two north–south parallel runways and one intersecting runway. The parallel runways are 17R/35L (west) which is generally used for aircraft arriving and departing to the west, and 17L/35R (east) which is generally used for aircraft arriving and departing to the east. During the winter months in Calgary, cold arctic air will move in from the north which means aircraft will primarily depart and arrive on north-facing runways (35R and 35L), while the summer months with warm winds from the south, aircraft will primarily take-off and land on south-facing runways (17R and 17L). The diagonal runway 11/29 is generally used when crosswinds are present, which commonly occurs in the summer when westerly Chinooks roll into Calgary, or when extreme wind conditions prohibit the use of the parallel runways.[citation needed] The former fourth and smallest runway, 08/26, was almost exclusively used by light aircraft and the general aviation sector, and as of October 3, 2024, has been officially redesignated as a taxiway.[65][2]

Calgary International Airport's three runways are as follows. with the following dimensions:[1][2]

  • Runway 11/29 is 8,000 ft × 200 ft (2,438 m × 61 m)
  • Runway 17R/35L is 12,675 ft × 200 ft (3,863 m × 61 m)
  • Runway 17L/35R is 14,000 ft × 200 ft (4,267 m × 61 m)

The longest runway in Canada at the time of its 2014 opening, Runway 17L/35R was built to reduce congestion and better accommodate larger, heavier aircraft: the weight of such aircraft, combined with the low air density resulting from the airport's high elevation and temperatures during the summer, means that a longer runway is necessary for take-off. Runway 17L/35R is also layered with concrete, a material more durable than the asphalt that composes the airport's other runways.[66][67]

Cargo area

[edit]

The airport has allotted an extensive amount of area for cargo operations, including over 3,000,000 square feet (280,000 m2) of warehouse space. Freight airlines such as Cargolux make regular trips to Europe, Asia, and other destinations.[68][69] In 2017, the Calgary airport handled a total of 147,000 tonnes (144,678 tons) of cargo.[clarification needed]

In 2011, Calgary International Airport received the Air Cargo World Award of Excellence for airports between 100,000 and 199,999 cargo tonnage, having the highest score for Canadian airports, and second highest for North-American airports.[70]

Hotels

[edit]

Calgary International Airport has two hotels located on site. The Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel is a 10-storey, 318 room hotel located in the international passenger terminal was opened On 1 September 2016.[71] The Delta Hotels by Marriott Calgary Airport In-Terminal located across Airport Road from the domestic passenger terminal.[72]

Other facilities

[edit]

At 91 metres (299 ft), the airport's air traffic control tower was the tallest standalone control tower in Canada upon its opening in 2013; compared to the previous tower, it has space for more air traffic controllers and is situated closer to the centre of the airport, giving controllers better views of the airfield.[73] Meanwhile, the headquarters of WestJet and its subsidiary WestJet Encore are located onsite.[74]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinationsRefs
Air Canada London–Heathrow, Montréal–Trudeau, Newark, Ottawa, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Seasonal: Delhi[75] 		[citation needed]
Air Canada Express Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Kelowna
Seasonal: Winnipeg 		[citation needed]
Air North Edmonton, Whitehorse [76]
Alaska Airlines Seattle/Tacoma [77]
American Airlines Dallas/Fort Worth
Seasonal: Charlotte,[78] Chicago–O'Hare 		[79]
Condor Seasonal: Frankfurt [80]
Delta Air Lines Minneapolis/St. Paul [81]
Delta Connection Salt Lake City [81]
Discover Airlines Frankfurt, Munich (begins April 12, 2025)[82] [83]
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zürich [84]
Flair Airlines Abbotsford, Kitchener/Waterloo, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg
Seasonal: Cancún,[85] Kelowna, Las Vegas,[86] Phoenix–Sky Harbor,[86] Puerto Vallarta[87] 		[88]
KLM Amsterdam [89]
Porter Airlines Montréal–Trudeau,[90] Ottawa, Toronto–Pearson [91]
Sunwing Airlines Cancún, Puerto Vallarta
Seasonal: Mazatlán, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, San José del Cabo, Varadero 		[92]
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, San Francisco
Seasonal: Los Angeles,[93] Washington–Dulles 		[94]
United Express Denver, San Francisco [94]
WestJet Abbotsford, Atlanta, Boston, Cancún, Comox, Edmonton, Fort Lauderdale, Halifax, Hamilton (ON), Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Kahului, Kelowna, Kitchener/Waterloo, Las Vegas, Liberia (CR), London–Heathrow, London (ON), Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul (begins April 27, 2025),[95] Moncton,[96] Montréal–Trudeau, Nanaimo, New York–JFK, Orange County, Orlando, Ottawa, Palm Springs, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Regina, San Diego, San Francisco, San José del Cabo, Saskatoon, Seattle/Tacoma, St. John's,[96] Sudbury (begins June 12, 2025),[97] Tampa, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Varadero, Victoria, Winnipeg, Yellowknife
Seasonal: Anchorage (begins June 29, 2025),[98] Austin, Barcelona, Belize City, Charlottetown, Chicago–O'Hare, Deer Lake,[99] Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Edinburgh, Fredericton,[100] Huatulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Kailua-Kona, Loreto, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Montego Bay, Nashville, Nassau, Québec City, Raleigh/Durham (begins June 9, 2025),[97] Reykjavík–Keflavík,[101] Rome–Fiumicino, Seoul–Incheon,[102] Sydney (NS) (begins June 10, 2025),[97] Thunder Bay, Tulum,[103] Washington–Dulles, Whitehorse, Windsor 		[104]
WestJet Encore Abbotsford, Brandon, Comox, Cranbrook,[105] Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Fort St. John, Grande Prairie, Kamloops, Kelowna, Lethbridge,[105] Medicine Hat,[105] Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George, Regina, Saskatoon, Terrace/Kitimat, Victoria
Seasonal: Portland (OR),[106] Seattle/Tacoma, Yellowknife 		[104]
The YYC sign
Map of European passenger and cargo destinations
class=notpageimage|
Destinations from Calgary International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Blue = Future destination
Yellow = Cargo-only destination
Map of East Asian passenger destinations
class=notpageimage|
Destinations from Calgary International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Blue = Future destination
Yellow = Cargo-only destination

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Amazon Air Edmonton, Hamilton (ON), Vancouver
Cargojet Cincinnati, Edmonton, Hamilton (ON), Montréal–Mirabel, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Cargolux Los Angeles, Luxembourg, Seattle/Tacoma
Carson Air[107] Kelowna, Vancouver
FedEx Express Memphis, Toronto–Pearson
FedEx Feeder Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg
UPS Airlines Sioux Falls
WestJet Cargo Halifax, Los Angeles, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver

Statistics

[edit]

In 2019, YYC Calgary International Airport was again the fourth-busiest airport in Canada in terms of the total number of passengers served, which was almost 18 million. This was another record year in passenger volume, surpassing the previous record set in 2018 by 3.54%.[108]

Passenger and cargo traffic

[edit]
Annual passenger traffic at YYC airport. See Wikidata query.

Calgary International Airport passenger and cargo volumes since 2010 are provided in the following table:

Passenger and cargo traffic at Calgary International Airport, 2010–2023
Year Passengers Change Cargo (kg) Change Notes
2010 12,630,695 Steady 120,000 Steady [109][41]
2011 12,770,988 Increase1.1% 116,000 Decrease3.3% [41]
2012 13,641,339 Increase6.8% 119,000 Increase2.6% [110][111]
2013 14,316,074 Increase4.9% 122,000 Increase2.5% [a][110][111]
2014 15,261,108 Increase6.6% 128,710 Increase5.5% [110][111]
2015 15,475,759 Increase1.4% 134,695 Increase4.6% [b][110][112]
2016 15,680,616 Increase1.3% 137,255 Increase1.7% [112][113]
2017 16,275,862 Increase3.8% 147,000 Increase7.3% [114][115]
2018 17,343,402 Increase6.6% 146,000 Decrease0.7% [116]
2019 17,957,780 Increase3.5% 155,820 Increase6.7% [116]
2020 5,675,483 Decrease68.40% N/A N/A [116]
2021 6,326,406 Increase11.47% N/A N/A [116]
2022 14,452,059 Increase128.4% N/A N/A [116]
2023 18,490,283 Increase27.94% N/A N/A [117]

Ground transportation

[edit]

Deerfoot Trail provides freeway access to the rest of the city.[118] There is also a tunnel beneath Runway 17L/35R that links the east side of the airport site to the terminal buildings.[119] Two parking garages and a rental-car facility are situated across from the terminals.[60][120] Public transport options are also available at the airport: Buses operated by Calgary Transit link YYC Calgary International to downtown, a nearby station of the local CTrain light-rail network, and other parts of the city.[121][122]

Notable accidents and incidents

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Calgary International became the third-busiest airport in Canada for the first time, ahead of Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.
  2. ^ Calgary International became the third-busiest airport in Canada for the second time, ahead of Montréal–Trudeau International Airport.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Calgary / YYC Calgary INTL (CYYC) Runway to taxiway conversion" (PDF). navcanada.ca. Nav Canada. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Synoptic/Metstat Station Information". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011.
  4. ^ "Calgary Int'l Airport Local E&D Passenger Statistics". yyc.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "Fact Sheet". YYC Calgary International Airport. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  6. ^ "Calgary airport scores 81 per cent recovery in 2022". calgary.citynews.ca. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Passenger Statistics". YYC Calgary International Airport. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Total aircraft movements by class of operation". Statistics Canada. May 30, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Keenan, Greg (May 2, 2014). "WestJet CEO sets his sights on international skies". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2017. A distinct corporate culture that forms part of the foundation of WestJet is evident in the airy, six-storey head office at its campus at Calgary International Airport and is mission critical for Mr. Saretsky.
  10. ^ "Air Canada – In the United States". www.aircanada.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Calgary International Airport - History". Simon Fraser University. 2004. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dippel, Scott (October 24, 2016). "Shiny new terminal just the latest in a long line of Calgary airports". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  13. ^ "The Landing".
  14. ^ "History of Calgary Airport". cbc.ca. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d "Rutledge Hangar". HeRMIS. Government of Alberta. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Calgary 100: 100 year history of Calgary. Calgary, AB: Provost Promotions & Publications LTD. 1974. p. 138. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "Airports Yield $632.68 Profit in 11 Months". Calgary Herald. December 27, 1939. p. 10. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Airport History". yyc.com. YYC Calgary International. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  19. ^ Hatch, F. J. (1983). The Aerodrome of Democracy: Canada and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, 1939-1945 (PDF). Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence. ISBN 0660114437. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Airport Runway to be Extended". Calgary Herald. February 21, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  21. ^ "Airport Runway Now Completed". Calgary Herald. October 29, 1949. p. 32. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c Snell, Dick (June 1, 1956). "It Took Six Long Years, But Result Is A Dandy". Calgary Herald. p. 38. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  23. ^ "Marler Officially Opens New Airport Terminal". Calgary Herald. June 2, 1956. p. 23.
  24. ^ Shiels, Bob (December 27, 1958). "Aviation in Calgary is Big Business". The Herald Magazine. Calgary. p. 1. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  25. ^ "Airport To Keep 'McCall'". Calgary Herald. April 9, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  26. ^ Hull, Ken (November 5, 1968). "Calgary Airport To Achieve International Status In 1969". Calgary Herald. p. 1. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  27. ^ Calgary Airport Authority (July 12, 2002). "Thank You Calgary". Calgary Herald. p. B6.
  28. ^ "Tons of Equipment, Material Used to Complete New City Jet Runway". Calgary Herald. September 15, 1961. p. 23. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "Airport Face-Lift Costs $4 Million". Calgary Herald. June 19, 1963. p. 16. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  30. ^ a b Bye, Cristine (October 11, 1977). "Ten years later, federal promise has been kept". Calgary Herald. p. G7. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  31. ^ a b c Marshall, Andy (2016). Thin Power: How former Calgary Mayor Rod Sykes stamped his brand on the city . . . And scorched some sacred cows. FriesenPress. pp. 168–175. ISBN 978-1460283967.
  32. ^ Simaluk, Vern (October 14, 1977). "Concorde: one word for it - beautiful". Calgary Herald. pp. A1. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "First 747 arrives May 5". Calgary Herald. January 12, 1973. p. 38.
  34. ^ Dardis, Wilf (June 27, 1974). "Calgary-London route opens". Calgary Herald. p. 30.
  35. ^ "Strikes turn Calgary into jumbo testing site". Calgary Herald. April 19, 1974. p. 33.
  36. ^ a b Zdeb, Chris (July 31, 2015). "Aug. 1, 1974: Province swoops in to take over Pacific Western Airlines". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  37. ^ Canadian Airlines (2000). Investor & Financial Information Overview. Calgary. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  38. ^ "Indepth: Air Canada Timeline". CBC News. June 20, 2005. Archived from the original on April 21, 2006. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  39. ^ Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations (2014). The Governance of Canadian Airports: Issues and Recommendations (PDF) (Report). Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations. p. 8. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  40. ^ Stephenson, Amanda (December 7, 2016). "Calgary airport CEO: Privatization no cure for high cost of air travel in Canada". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  41. ^ a b c d SNC-Lavalin (April 2012). Calgary Airport Authority 5 Year Performance Review (2007-2011). Calgary, AB: YYC Calgary Airport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 6, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  42. ^ a b Gilligan, Melissa (July 31, 2014). "Tear-down of old air traffic control tower begins at Calgary airport". Global News. Calgary, AB. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  43. ^ AECOM. Volume II – Information Necessary to Complete the Environmental Assessment Chapter 7 – Project Description (PDF) (Report). The Calgary Airport Authority. pp. 7–59. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  44. ^ "WestJet's inspirational ascent from humble beginnings". CTV News. February 18, 2015. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  45. ^ Fortney, Valerie (February 18, 2016). "Fortney: One of WestJet's first pilots celebrates 20 years of flying with one last flight". Calgary Herald. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  46. ^ "Congressional Bills 112th US Congress - H. Res. 286 Introduced in House (IH)". US Government. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  47. ^ AECOM (2008). "Parallel Runway Project: Project Description and Scoping Document" (PDF). yyc.com. Calgary Airport Authority. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  48. ^ "NAV Canada Opens Tallest Free-Standing Air Traffic Control Tower in Canada at Calgary International Airport". yyc.com. Ottawa, ON: NAV Canada. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  49. ^ "New Calgary runway officially open". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 29, 2014. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  50. ^ Dippel, Scott (May 21, 2014). "Calgary airport tunnel by the numbers". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Calgary. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  51. ^ "Airport tunnel a top priority, Nenshi vows". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Calgary. October 20, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  52. ^ a b "Calgary International Airport Development Programme, Calgary". airport-technology.com. Airport Technology. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  53. ^ a b Baskas, Harriet (October 31, 2016). "New international terminal opens at Calgary Airport". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  54. ^ "YYC Officially Opens New International Terminal". The Calgary Airport Authority. Calgary, AB. October 31, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  55. ^ Tarasko, Mike (October 6, 2016). "City airport officially named "YYC Calgary International"". 660 News. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  56. ^ "Alberta to pilot COVID-19 testing at border that could shorten quarantine time | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  57. ^ [1]
  58. ^ [2]
  59. ^ a b "Calgary Airport Domestic Terminal". calgary-airport.com. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  60. ^ a b "Terminal maps" (PDF). YYC Calgary International Airport. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  61. ^ "Preclearance locations". U.S. Customs and Border Protection. June 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  62. ^ Jarvie, Michele (October 31, 2016). "Opening day flies by at new Calgary airport terminal". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  63. ^ a b Stephenson, Amanda (December 27, 2016). "WestJet CEO blasts new terminal at YYC, says airport authority hasn't listened to concerns". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  64. ^ Tighe, Tony (December 21, 2016). "WestJet says passengers upset with Calgary airport connection travel times". Global News. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  65. ^ "Aircraft Noise Management". yyc.com. YYC Calgary International Airport. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  66. ^ Bradley, Jennifer (August 2014). "Calgary Int'l builds Canada's longest runway". Airport Improvement. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  67. ^ Stephenson, Amanda (June 16, 2014). "New $600-million runway takes off at Calgary airport". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  68. ^ Parker, David (June 17, 2016). "Parker: Calgary airport cargo traffic takes off". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  69. ^ Vaessen, Doug; Freeman, Jenna (October 22, 2014). "Massive cargo plane touches down at YYC for first time". Global News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  70. ^ "YYC ranked best Canadian Cargo Airport and receives prestigious 2011 Air Cargo World Award". Calgary Airport Authority. Calgary, AB: Airport Review. July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  71. ^ "The Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel Has Now Checked-In to YYC" (Press Release). YYC Calgary International Airport. September 1, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  72. ^ "Onsite hotels". yyc.com. YYC Calgary International Airport. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  73. ^ Elliott, Tamara; Boushy, David (July 3, 2013). "Look up, way up! Calgary Airport unveils new air traffic control tower". Global News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  74. ^ Elliott, Tamara (March 19, 2013). "WestJet's new headquarters stay true to Calgary roots". Global News. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  75. ^ Canada, Air. ""Ab India Door Nahin!" Air Canada Significantly Expands Service to India for Winter 2024-25, Leveraging its Global Network Strength". www.newswire.ca.
  76. ^ "Flight Schedule". Air North. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  77. ^ "Flight Schedules". Alaska Airlinest. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  78. ^ "American Adds Seasonal Charlotte – Calgary Service From June 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
  79. ^ "Flight schedules and notifications". American Airlines. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  80. ^ condor.com – Flight schedule (German) retrieved 3 November 2021
  81. ^ a b "Flight Schedules". Delta Air Lines. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  82. ^ "DISCOVER AIRLINES OPENS LONG-HAUL BASE IN MUNICH". AirwaysMagazine. June 6, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  83. ^ "Eurowings Discover Extends Calgary to Year-Round Service from Oct 2023".
  84. ^ "Timetable Updates". Edelweiss Air. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  85. ^ "Flair Airlines Adds Calgary – Cancun Service From Dec 2023". Aeroroutes. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  86. ^ a b "Fly away: Flair announces winter schedule with new routes and a big sale". DHCanada. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  87. ^ "Flair Airlines on LinkedIn: Hey Calgarians, wave hello to paradise 🌊 We're bringing the sun to…".
  88. ^ "Schedule". Flair Airlines. Archived from the original on March 26, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  89. ^ "View the Timetable". KLM. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  90. ^ "Porter Airlines Adds Montreal – Western Canada Service in 2Q24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  91. ^ White, Ryan (December 15, 2022). "Porter Airlines enters Calgary market with 2 daily flights to Toronto". CTV News. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  92. ^ "Flight Status and Alerts". Sunwing. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  93. ^ "United Adds Los Angeles – Calgary Service in NS24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  94. ^ a b "United Flight Schedules". United Airlines. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  95. ^ "WESTJET ADDS CALGARY – MINNEAPOLIS SERVICE FROM APRIL 2025". June 25, 2024.
  96. ^ a b "WestJet firmly secures position as Canada's leading leisure airline through winter schedule unlocking unbeatable opportunity to escape to the sun".
  97. ^ a b c "WestJet NS25 Network & Frequency Changes – 17NOV24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  98. ^ "WestJet NS25 Network Expansion". AeroRoutes. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  99. ^ "WestJet's Expansive Summer 2024 Schedule".
  100. ^ "WestJet Adds Calgary – Fredericton Seasonal Service From June 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  101. ^ "WESTJET NS24 LONG-HAUL NETWORK EXPANSION".
  102. ^ "WestJet puts Seoul on the schedule with new flights from YYC starting May 2024". TravelWeek. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  103. ^ "The WestJet Group further solidifies its position as Canada's leisure champion with expanded 737 service to sun destinations". westjet.com. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  104. ^ a b "Direct and Non-Stop Flights". WestJet. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  105. ^ a b c "WestJet Link Discontinues Calgary Service in late-Sep 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  106. ^ "WestJet NW23 US / Puerto Rico Network Changes – 29MAY23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  107. ^ "Carson Air – Excellence in Performance, Safety, Cargo, Air Ambulance, Flight Training, and Aircraft Maintenance". carsonair.com.
  108. ^ "YYC > Media > Facts & Figures > Passenger Statistics". www.yyc.com. YYC Calgary International Airport. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  109. ^ "ACI - North American airports traffic (2010)". Airports Council International. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012.
  110. ^ a b c d "Cargo Statistics". YYC Calgary International Airport. Calgary Airport Authority. Archived from the original on May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  111. ^ a b c "Calgary International Airport local E&D passenger statistics" (PDF). YYC Calgary International Airport. Calgary Airport Authority. January 27, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2015. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  112. ^ a b "Calgary International Airport local E&D passenger statistics" (PDF). YYC Calgary International Airport. Calgary Airport Authority. July 19, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  113. ^ "YYC's Passenger Numbers and Cargo Volumes Grow Again in 2016". yyc.com. YYC Calgary International Airport. January 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  114. ^ "Calgary International Airport local E&D passenger statistics" (PDF). YYC Calgary International Airport. Calgary Airport Authority. August 20, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  115. ^ "YYC Achieves Record Passenger Volumes in 2017". yyc.com. YYC Calgary International Airport. February 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  116. ^ a b c d e "Calgary International Airport Local E&D Passenger Statistics" (PDF). www.yyc.com. Calgary Airport Authority. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 14, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  117. ^ "Calgary Int'l Airport Passenger Statistics for 2023" (PDF). yyc.com. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  118. ^ "Calgary International Airport (YYC)" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  119. ^ Ho, Clara (May 26, 2014). "Traffic takes off through $295-million tunnel". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  120. ^ "Car rentals". YYC Calgary International Airport. Archived from the original on July 27, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  121. ^ "Route 100 - Airport/McKnight Stn". Calgary Transit. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  122. ^ "Route 300 - BRT Airport/City Centre". Calgary Transit. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  123. ^ de Boer, Richard (1996). "F For Freddie – Calgary's VE Day Tragedy". bombercommandmuseum.ca. Bomber Command Museum of Canada. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  124. ^ "Accident description for West Coast Airlines Flight 794". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. August 4, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  125. ^ "Accident description for Pacific Western Airlines Flight 501". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. August 4, 2017. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  126. ^ "Related accidents/incidents". Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  127. ^ "Accident Description". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Calgary International Airport.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calgary_International_Airport&oldid=1262564324"