Why More Canadians Are Choosing Waterloo Airport Over the Drive to Toronto Pearson
March 19, 2026 Team Contibutor
If you live anywhere in southwestern Ontario and you are still driving to Toronto Pearson for every flight, it is worth reconsidering. Since 2019, the Region of Waterloo International Airport has experienced the fastest passenger growth of all Canadian airports, and in 2025, it quietly posted one of its strongest years in history.
The numbers tell a compelling story
More than 426,500 passengers travelled through YKF in 2025, the airport’s third-highest total on record. The slight dip from 2024’s record of 523,210 passengers was driven by fewer US routes ā a pattern seen at airports across the country as Canadians redirect their travel spend.
To put the growth in perspective, YKF handled roughly 80,000 passengers in 2019. That is a 554% increase in five years.
On the runway, the picture is even stronger. YKF recorded 145,313 aircraft movements in 2025, ranking it among the top 10 busiest airports in Canada for runway activity ahead of several airports with far more name recognition.
What flying from YKF actually looks like
Three major carriers serve the airport: Flair Airlines, WestJet, and Sunwing, covering domestic routes to Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, and Edmonton, as well as popular sun destinations such as CancĆŗn, Punta Cana, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Puerto Vallarta.
The most underrated option is Air Canada Landline ā a motorcoach service that connects YKF directly to Toronto Pearson, where passengers can check in at Waterloo and access Air Canada’s full network of over 140 destinations worldwide.
Demand has been strong enough that Air Canada has doubled the frequency to 10 return trips daily. For travellers heading to Europe, Asia, or anywhere beyond North America, this is a genuine alternative to fighting GTA traffic.
An essential cog in the local economy
The airport’s value extends well beyond convenience. YKF generates more than $220 million annually in direct economic impact for Waterloo Region, supporting roughly 660 direct jobs and over 1,300 total positions across direct, indirect, and induced employment.
When you choose to fly from YKF, that spend stays largely local ā from the security staff to the kitchen at Stockyards, the airport’s food outlet that sources ingredients locally.
Built for the future
Recent terminal upgrades to baggage systems, security lines, and arrival areas have increased YKF’s capacity to handle up to one million passengers annually, with minimal additional operating costs.
A $616 million 20-year growth plan under review includes runway extensions for larger aircraft, a future net-zero terminal, and a dedicated aerospace campus on airport lands.
Toronto Pearson is forecast to reach its capacity ceiling of 70 million passengers by the early 2030s, at which point YKF’s role as southern Ontario’s primary alternative to Pearson becomes not just convenient but essential.
One more reason to appreciate what YKF has built: it is one of only four airports in Canada to hold a gold certification from the Rick Hansen Foundation for accessibility, a meaningful standard for the millions of Canadians who travel with disabilities.
For more information on routes and schedules, visit waterlooairport.ca or speak with your travel advisor.
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