The Calgary Airport Authority said this week that traffic at Calgary International Airport (YYC) could take five years to fully recover from the pandemic as it called for collaborating with the regional and national government on a national testing strategy and other innovations to aid in driving a return of air travel.
The Authority said YYC will likely have only 5.1 million travelers in 2021, down from 5.7 million in 2020 and 18 million passengers in 2019.
YYC is participating in the Government of Alberta’s International Border Pilot Testing Program, a joint program between provincial and federal governments to provide a science-based and data-driven approach to safe air travel. The Authority added that this type of testing program, along with mass vaccination, are key to rebuilding trust with travelers.
“The pandemic decimated demand for travel and erased 25 years of passenger growth at YYC,” said Bob Sartor, president and CEO, of the Authority. “We are asking for the government to collaborate with us on a national approach to testing and to support innovation as a way to help the aviation industry recover.”
