Calgary International Airport sees massive jump in travellers

CALGARY – The Calgary International Airport (YYC) is seeing more people at peak times now than it was before the pandemic.

Senior Director of Terminal Operations Andy Davis says the number of departing passengers has tripled and that, combined with connecting flights, means the airport is just humming.

“In our peak time, which is between 7 in the morning and 10 in the morning, we’re now seeing 106 per cent of the traffic we saw in the summer before the pandemic. So it’s actually busier,” he said.

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In terms of passengers, YYC saw around 60,000 in May. That’s jumped to about 183,000 in July.

“We’re expecting to be well over 200,000 just direct departing visitors this month which is the [most] we’ve seen since the pandemic started.”

He says there is enough staff to handle it all, but things are still moving a bit slow because of COVID-19 protocols.

The requirement to take temperatures is set to end on Aug. 9 and Davis says that should speed things along.