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YOW will ‘come close’ to matching pre-COVID passenger volumes in 2024, chair says

David Sali
November 4, 2024

Ottawa International Airport Authority chair Bonnie Boretsky said the number of travellers using YOW is steadily climbing thanks to new routes from carriers such as Porter Airlines, which has turned Ottawa into one of its main hubs, and Air France, which launched direct flights from the nation’s capital to Paris last year.

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Ottawa’s airport will come “pretty close” to matching its pre-pandemic passenger volumes in 2024, the chair of the organization that oversees the facility said Monday. Ottawa International Airport Authority chair Bonnie Boretsky said the number of travellers using YOW is steadily climbing thanks to new routes from carriers such as Porter Airlines, which has turned Ottawa into one of its main hubs, and Air France, which launched direct flights from the nation’s capital to Paris last year. Ottawa Airport served more than 5.1 million passengers in both 2018 and 2019 before air travel virtually ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, fewer than 1.2 million travellers passed through the terminal, with the number rising to three million the following year and nearly 4.1 million in 2023. Through the first nine months of this year, YOW has served more than 3.4 million passengers. Boretsky said 2024’s total passenger tally should approach 2019’s mark, although it might not get there. “If it’s not going to be this year, we’ll be pretty close,” she said. “We’re looking to get that number … next year. That’s the forecast.” Boretsky’s remarks came after the airport announced longtime Canada Post executive Susan Margles would replace current president and CEO Mark Laroche, who is retiring at the end of the year. Boretsky said a “big priority” for Margles will be ensuring that the current terminal, which opened in 2003, has the capacity to meet growing demand. A number of major new infrastructure projects are now underway or nearing completion at YOW, including a new LRT connection on the Trillium Line and a 178-room hotel that will be linked to the terminal and is expected to open in late 2025 or early 2026. The airport is also adding new restaurants and other concessions as it looks to increase the list of destinations it serves. Among YOW’s recent wins was Air Canada’s decision earlier this year to resume non-stop flights from Ottawa to London Heathrow beginning next spring. Boretsky said it will be up to the Ottawa market to determine if and when more new routes are added at YOW. “We have to make sure it’s a success for them if we want to keep (that flight) here and if we want to get more flights. This year we did well with Air France. Hopefully, we’ll do equally well for Air Canada with Heathrow and we’ll go from there.”