Toronto Pearson Leads as Canada's Busiest Airport with 46.8 Million Passengers in 2024

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) continues its dominance as Canada’s busiest aviation hub, managing approximately 46.8 million passengers in 2024. This volume significantly exceeds the next busiest airport, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which handled just under 30 million passengers in 2025. Toronto’s superior figures highlight its role as a critical gateway serving Canada’s largest city and main financial center.

The operational scale of Toronto Pearson is impressive, covering 4,600 acres—comparable to nearly 12,500 hockey arenas—and featuring five primary runways. Before the global pandemic, the airport supported more than 50,000 jobs, making it not only the busiest but also one of the largest employment centers in the country. The expansive infrastructure and workforce demonstrate the airport’s importance beyond passenger traffic alone.

Passenger traffic at Canada’s top eight airports reached 58.2 million departing travelers last year, a 2.1% increase from the previous year and up 4.8% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Canadian airports, while not as influential globally, are rebounding alongside worldwide aviation growth. This rebound reflects recovery trends after widespread grounding during the pandemic and increasing air travel demand.

Toronto Pearson’s international connectivity remains robust. For example, in the first nine months of 2025, the airport processed 35.8 million passengers, generating $1.6 billion in revenue. Of these travelers, approximately 22.8 million were on international flights, underscoring the airport’s role as a major hub for global air travel in and out of Canada.

The broader Canadian air traffic landscape shows a notable regional distribution. Vancouver International, with 26.9 million passengers, and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), with 22.4 million, rank as the second and third busiest, respectively. Calgary International (19.4 million) and Edmonton International (7.9 million) follow, balancing passenger volume with large airport sizes and multiple runways.

Despite Toronto’s passenger dominance, it is not the largest Canadian airport by area. Montreal-Mirabel International Airport once pursued ambitions to become one of the world’s largest but now serves solely private jets and industrial aviation uses across its massive 17,000-acre site. Edmonton International and Calgary International also surpass Toronto in acreage with 7,000 and 5,144 acres, respectively, yet do not come close in passenger throughput.

Canadian air travel patterns have shown evolving trends, particularly in transborder traffic to the United States. Despite being a substantial portion of travel, US-bound flights from Canada’s major airports declined by 7.5% in 2025 versus 2024, influenced by geopolitical and economic factors. Instead, travelers increasingly favor alternative international destinations such as Mexico, Portugal, and the Caribbean.

Toronto Pearson’s reporting noted a 1.4% dip in international passenger numbers in Q3 2025, primarily linked to reduced US travel. However, this decline was partially offset by growth in domestic travel within Canada, maintaining overall passenger volume. Canadian airports continue managing a complex balance of regional, domestic, and international traffic flows amid shifting travel behaviors.

In summary, Toronto Pearson stands as the clear leader in Canadian passenger traffic by a wide margin, shaping the country’s aviation landscape with its extensive connectivity, size, and economic impact. Meanwhile, other large Canadian airports play important supporting roles, balancing passenger service with industrial and regional aviation functions.