The number of passengers who passed through Canada’s largest and busiest airport during the first half of 2023 grew by almost 50 percent compared to the same period in 2022, according to data released by the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA).
The airport operator said the increase in passenger activity was due to high travel demand and the removal of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that were in place during the first half of 2022.
The operator added that passenger activity from January to June of 2023 recovered to 86.5 percent relative to the same period in 2019 before the pandemic.
Deborah Flint, president and CEO of GTAA, said the growth reflected “the strength of the market” at Toronto Pearson Airport.
‘More Resiliency’
The significant growth in passenger and flight activity, said the operator, resulted in a 33.5 percent increase in total revenues, from $666.4 million in the first half of 2022 to $889.4 million in the first half of this year.
In a similar vein, net income rose by nearly 1,800 percent, from $6.9 million to $129.9 million between the two measured periods.
“While we strive for further predictability, reliability and enjoyment of travel at Toronto Pearson Airport, we see more resiliency across the ecosystem,” Ms. Flint said.
The travel surge that occurred last summer as pandemic restrictions eased led to overflowing baggage halls, stranded passengers, and tens of thousands of flight cancellations, along with many passengers being held on the tarmac waiting on board aircraft.
In July, the GTAA said those issues have been addressed after it hired 10,000 new employees since last summer. The operator said the staffing boost helped increase baggage system reliability, cut wait times at security and customs checkpoints, and decreased holds on board aircraft—all by more than 90 percent since last year.
