Domestic flight traffic decline at Toronto and Montreal airports: What you need to know about international travel surge?

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Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) report contrasting passenger trends for the first half of 2024.

While international travel has surged, domestic flight numbers have experienced a slight decline.

YUL has recorded a substantial 12.4% increase in international passenger traffic compared to the same period last year.

Transborder travel, which includes flights to and from the United States, also saw a significant uptick of 12.9%. YYZ echoed this trend, reporting a 10.2% rise in international passenger numbers.

However, domestic travel has shown signs of slowing down. YUL experienced a modest 0.4% decrease in domestic passenger traffic, while YYZ reported a 1.1% decline.

Overall, YUL handled 10.6 million passengers in the first six months of 2024, representing an 8.6% increase compared to the previous year.

YYZ welcomed 22.6 million passengers during the same period, marking a 6.2% growth.

To accommodate the surge in international travelers, YUL has introduced several measures to ease congestion, including express drop-off zones and extended free parking periods.

The summer season is particularly busy at YUL, said Yves Beauchamp, President and CEO of Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.

Deborah Flint, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, expressed optimism about the airport’s performance.

Travel demand is strong and may surpass prior record levels, she said.

YYZ is undertaking several projects to enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency, including airside pavement restoration, baggage handling upgrades, and border modernization initiatives.

The contrasting trends in international and domestic travel highlight the evolving preferences of air travelers.

While the reasons behind the decline in domestic flights remain to be analyzed, the surge in international travel underscores the increasing popularity of overseas destinations among Canadian travelers.