The global pandemic’s second year of heavy impacts on the airline industry saw nearly 100,000 more air travellers pass through the gates of Victoria International Airport than volumes reported in 2020, according to the latest figures released by the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA).

 

 

A total of 673,748 individuals flew via Victoria International (YYJ) in 2021, outpacing 2020’s 574,874 air traveller total by just over 17%.

 

Both years of the pandemic were a far cry short in terms of passenger volumes from 2018, however, when airlines handled a record-breaking 2,048,627 people at Vancouver Island's busiest airport.

 

The split between domestic, US-bound and international passengers was 670,592, 2,239 and 217, respectively, for the year. In 2019 approximately 1.7 million passengers flew to domestic destinations from Victoria, 302,000 traveled to the United States, and nearly 38,000 flew internationally.

 

Total aircraft movements at YYJ numbered 97,044 in 2021, a nearly 20,000 plane movement increase over 2020’s 79,099.

 

Air cargo, meanwhile, saw a 5% drop year-over-year with 86.1 metric tons of goods transported compared to 90.6 one year prior.

 

YYJ’s roster of airlines and direct destinations have suffered greatly due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. Mainstay operators Westjet and Air Canada have reduced capacity significantly since 2020, cutting both flight frequency to popular destinations and nixing some direct flights in favour of connections via Vancouver or other airports.

 

New airline entrants, such as Edmonton-based Flair, have pulled back recently announced scheduled flights with plans to restore services at some point in the future. Alaskan Airlines, the sole US carrier among airlines servicing YYJ, recently resumed services to Victoria with just a single daily connection to Seattle's SEA-TAC International. 

 

Victoria International is Canada’s 12th busiest airport by passenger volume, behind Kelowna International Airport and ahead of Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport, although the final tally for 2021 may shift YYJ's position to 12th place behind both ports. Passenger totals from across the nation are anticipated to be released by mid-winter. C

 

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