Travel trends at Calgary International Airport (YYC) are shifting, and the airport is hoping to capitalize on this by expanding its international network.
Airport leaders say they are looking to reshape Calgary into a global gateway, targeting new destinations worldwide.
Apart from connecting Albertans with new routes, the airport is also investing in Calgary’s economy while constantly competing for flight opportunities.
International growth at YYC
There is steady growth in international connectivity to and from YYC.
According to airport data, in 2025 international travel increased by eight per cent compared to the previous year, rising from 2.4 to 2.6 million foreign passengers.
“If you look at the connectivity of Calgary to the world, you just have to look on a map and look at what it used to be and where it is now, and those lines go a lot further now,” said Chris Dinsdale, the president and CEO of Calgary Airports.
At the same time, direct travel from Calgary to the United States declined by 22 per cent, in line with national trends.
New international long-haul flights have played a significant role in this growth.
Last year, the airport launched 15 new destinations worldwide. Some of the most notable additions include Munich and Mexico City.
So far this year, the airport has already announced two new plans for non-stop flights to Abu Dhabi and Sao Paolo.
“You’ll see us chasing other routes quite aggressively, and we’ll see what else we can come up with,” said Dinsdale.
Calgary’s role as an economic engine
Economic development is one of the core values at Calgary’s international airport, which recently demonstrated this in announcing YYC AeroNex.
AeroNex is a plan with Lufthansa Technik Canada to transform Calgary’s global connectivity.
This project is planned to generate significant economic revenue for Calgary by attracting new airlines offering long-haul flights.
So far, over $300 million has been invested in the project, and it will attract skilled professionals to enhance training, provide education across a variety of professions, and help build a sustainable network of high-value jobs.
The airport’s most recent economic study reports that YYC supported 42,000 full-time jobs, generating more than $2.9 billion in wages and nearly $6.5 billion in gross domestic product, or GDP.
“When you have a direct route, investments do come, companies do come, and our companies go out [to new destinations], tourism does come in both ways,” said Dinsdale.
Challenges and competition
It is not easy to attract new airlines with new routes.
Although Calgary is one of the largest cities in Canada, it still needs to compete with other major cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
According to Dinsdale, many factors make Calgary an attractive new destination.
Calgary is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada. Airlines look at a city’s population and diversity as indicators of where residents want to travel.
The city also has one of the highest GDP’s across the country.
Calgary has the highest head office-to-population ratio in Canada, a selling point in negotiations for new routes. Airlines want to open offices in a booming economy where other airlines have been successful.
There are also many tourism opportunities, such as the Rocky Mountains.
“We stand out really well compared to our peers,” said Dinsdale. “I mean, when we compare ourselves to Vancouver, we can really hold our own.”
Looking ahead, the airport continues to expand its international connections by targeting six new destinations across East Asia and Europe.
Expanding global connectivity is cementing YYC International as a destination in its own right, rather than a regional stopover.
View of the control tower at Calgary International Airport from inside a plane. PHOTO: JULIA FINOT
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