‘Full recovery’: Calgary International Airport breaks visitor record

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Calgary International Airport reached a record 18.5 million passengers in 2023, surpassing the previous milestone of 18 million set in 2019.

Calgary Airport Authority President and CEO Chris Dinsdale called 2023 “a year of significant growth and renewal,” with big increases in guest numbers, flight partnerships and non-stop routes.

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Now Canada’s fourth busiest airport by passenger activity, the airport is one of two in the country that have recovered beyond 2019 numbers.

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“We have managed to recover from the pandemic and are proud to be even stronger and better positioned than in 2019,” Dinsdale said at Wednesday’s annual general meeting.

The airport also experienced its busiest summer travel season, welcoming 1.95 million passengers in July and 1.97 million in August.

“We also saw a new daily passenger record of 27,600 passengers. “Last year’s figures tell a story of total recovery, of a 180-degree turn towards progress and growth.”

Dinsdale credited WestJet for playing a “huge role” in the airport’s turnaround. “Having them here, as a base of operations, was probably what made the difference in reaching that recovery compared to other airports.”

He said the industry has recovered quite well, especially larger centers, while smaller centers are facing more challenges.

“There is pent-up demand for travel; now business travel is not back like it used to be.”

Calgary airport working to become profitable

The authority’s revenue for 2023 was $497 million, up 19.6 percent from 2022. Dinsdale said the two most notable sources of revenue were vehicle parking at $49 million and concessions revenue. with 91 million dollars.

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Despite the improving numbers, the airport posted a loss of $30 million in 2023.

The Calgary Airport Authority is a non-profit organization, Dinsdale said. “In my opinion, our goal is to make a profit, pay off the debt.”

He noted that the airport is now generating cash and is working on profitability.

“If we look to the future now, it could give us a few years and we will be profitable.”

About 23 million passengers are forecast to pass through the airport annually by 2028, and projects like the $201 million west runway rehabilitation project will help support that growth.

The west runway project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and involves a complete overhaul and replacement of the existing runway, which began construction in 1939.

Work is also underway to expand food, beverage and retail service at the airport, with 12 new spaces in 2024.

The airport also welcomed new airlines, including Porter Airlines, whose service began in May. Calgary Airport now offers uninterrupted connectivity to more than 90 destinations around the world.

According to Dinsdale, a feasibility study the airport launched in 2023 to look at things like energy efficiency, on-site generation and retrofit options that could reduce its carbon footprint is also well underway.

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“This should conclude this year and then we will start making decisions about what we want to do,” he said.

The authority will not wait for the results of the study to advance smaller energy efficiency measures, such as more efficient lighting.

“Big projects, like our heating plant, which is from the ’70s, take a little more time.”

Airport aboard passenger train, connection to the Blue Line

The UCP government’s $9 million feasibility study for passenger rail in Alberta includes the possibility of a line to the Calgary airport.

The feasibility study, which is expected to be complete in 2025, looks at possible rail connections from Edmonton to Calgary, which would have stops at airports and downtowns in both cities. The study also seeks to connect Calgary to Banff and Edmonton to Jasper.

The province also dedicated $3 million to study a possible Blue Line link to Calgary International Airport. That evaluation is expected to be complete this summer, and the connection could be completed within three years.

Dinsdale said train connections to the airport make sense in the long term, despite the potential effects on parking revenue.

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“Would you fear that this would affect our parking revenue in any way? What could. But if it is more sustainable and if the community benefits and wants it, it will receive our full support.”

He noted that many airport employees could benefit from a direct connection to the Blue Line.

“If it saves us from having to build a $30 million parking lot in five years, maybe that won’t be a bad thing either.”

— With files from Bill Kaufmann and Matt Scace

[email protected]

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