2021
3
August
A third of the way back to normal - 75,000 pass through Canadian airports in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began
3
August
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, 50,000 travellers passed through screening at Canadian airports in a single day.
50,913 travellers (the total of Canada's 15 largest airports) passed through airport screening on July 4th, 2021, at the tail end of the Canada Day long weekend.
The last time there were more than 50,000 flying in a single day ? March 17th, 2020. (5 days after the NHL suspended its season).
So what is 'normal' ? Prior to the pandemic, 150,000 to 175,000 travellers passing through Canada's airports in a single day would be a typical number on most days of the year.
This would balloon to somewhere in the 180,000 to 200,000 range during holiday periods and over the busier July/August summer travel season.
50,000 travellers on the Sunday of Canada Day Long Weekend equates to roughly 25% of normal levels for a pre-pandemic Canada Day Long Weekend.
25% of normal you say. That's it? That's something to note?
Well, compared to what we've seen since the start of the pandemic, over 475 days ago, it's a pretty big deal for Canada's airports.
Having glanced at the screened passenger data over at CATSA more than a few times during the pandemic, I can tell you that Canadian airports have been operating at a consistent '10% of normal' levels during nearly all of the last 475 days (except around Christmas 2020 when it was closer to 20%).
Canadian airports have been ghost towns for about 16 months now.
This started to change in mid June, just over a few weeks ago, as numbers climbed up to '15% of normal' around June 21st.
And then another large increase over the next 10 days, when passenger levels climbed to 20-25% of normal levels for the July long weekend.
Will Canadian airports be back to 30%-40% of normal levels in July / August ?
50% by September / October?
Something tells me Canadian airport traffic numbers are going to be rising almost as fast as our fully vaccinated numbers over the next few months.
Down in the U.S., our large neighbour to the south has had about a 3-4 month head start on us with their return to the skies.
How's that going? Well, according to TSA numbers, they are back to roughly 75-80% of normal airport traffic levels, with some of their July 4th long weekend days actually exceeding pre-pandemic numbers.
Update August 2nd, 2021 - More than 75,000 passengers passed through Canada's airports over the August long weekend (~76,000 on both the Friday and Sunday). This is approximately 35% of normal levels. It took almost exactly one month for airport traffic levels to increase by 10%.
2021
30
July
Vancouver to Paris, France and then home from Amsterdam - $491 CAD roundtrip including taxes
30
July
2021
28
July
Vancouver to Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal - $250 CAD roundtrip | fall and winter travel
28
July
2021
26
July
Vancouver to El Salvador or Honduras - $316 to $350 CAD roundtrip | 2022 dates available
26
July
2021
11
July
Cheap Flights Within Canada : Anything left for summer?
11
July
2021
10
June
Vancouver to Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal (or vice versa) - $230 to $259 CAD roundtrip | non-stop flights, including July and August
10
June
2021
9
June
Vancouver to Québec City (or vice versa) - $343 CAD roundtrip | non-stop flights
9
June
2021
8
June
Seattle to Fairbanks, Alaska - $144 CAD roundtrip including taxes | non-stop flights
8
June
2021
23
May
Vancouver to Manila, Philippines - $641 CAD roundtrip | 2022 dates available
23
May
2021
21
May
Vancouver or Abbotsford to Montreal (or vice versa) - $118 to $238 CAD roundtrip | non-stop flights, including July and August
21
May
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