Calgary International Airport - Record Level Passenger Volumes

January 31, 2007   |  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
January 31, 2007          

Calgary International Airport - Record Level Passenger Volumes
Over 11 million passengers in 2006

Calgary, AB. – Passenger volumes at Calgary International Airport reached an all-time high with Canada’s fourth busiest airport surpassing 11 million annual passengers in 2006.
 
Statistics reported by the airlines reflect growth in all sectors for a total of 11.27 million passengers, equating to an increase of 11 percent, or over one million more passengers than 2005.
 
“Exceeding 11 million annual passengers reflects yet another year of double digit growth. Calgary’s passenger growth over the past four years is 43 percent – Canada’s fastest growing airport in Canada’s fastest growing major city,” commented Garth Atkinson, President and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority. “Calgary is recognized by airlines as a great opportunity for new air services or increased capacity on existing routes.”
 
Air service development highlights in 2006 include British Airways returning to Calgary and Frontier Airlines selecting Calgary as the first Canadian destination for a U.S. low-cost carrier. Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz also added new non-stop services from Calgary to New York City, Palm Springs. Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Comox and Yellowknife. Calgary-based WestJet Airlines, celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2006, continued its steady growth with the addition of non-stop daily service to Halifax and Las Vegas, an increase of its Toronto service to eight flights daily and Ft. McMurray to twice daily. Asian tourism growth to Calgary was also evident in two Japanese carriers, All Nippon and Japan Airlines, operating a series of summer charter flights from various Japanese cities.
 
“With growth well in excess of market projections, the Authority must continue to have the necessary infrastructure in place to facilitate Calgarians staying connected to the world,” added Atkinson. “With 12 years normal growth compressed into the past four years, facilities thought to be adequate for a least a few more years are now reaching their capacity.”
 
Since assuming responsibility for Calgary International Airport from the Government of Canada in 1992, The Calgary Airport Authority has invested over $800M in capital and expansion projects while paying $274M in federal airport rent tax to the Government of Canada.

The Calgary Airport Authority is a not-for-profit, non-share capital corporation, responsible for the management, maintenance and development of Calgary International Airport and Springbank Airport under long-term lease from the Government of Canada.
 

For further information, contact:  Bryce Paton, Calgary Airport Authority
                                                     Media Line: 403-735-5899