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Abbotsford International Airport reaches 1 Million Passenger Milestone
January 8, 2020 By Wings Staff
A CF-101 Voodoo interceptor greeted visitors to Abbotsford International for years before being relocated to the terminal’s main entrance. (Photo: Abbotsford International, abbotsfordairport.ca)
Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford, BC, on December 30 announced that the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) in 2019 reached the 1 million passenger milestone. YXX is one of Canada’s fastest growing airports as measured by percentage increase for passenger volumes year over year.
In 2015, YXX hosted 487,833 passengers, followed by 530,643 in 2016 (an 8.8 per cent increase year over year); 677,653 in 2017 (27.7 per cent increase); 842,212 in 2018 (24.3 per cent increase); and now more than 1 million passengers in 2019, an 18.7 per cent increase year over year.
“YXX contributes greatly to the economy of the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver, benefiting residents and supporting local economic development,” said Braun. “I’m proud of the careful and strategic management of this asset and I know that YXX welcoming its 1 millionth passenger is one of many exciting achievements at the Abbotsford International Airport; with many more to come.”
The airport notes its success is driven by supportive airline partners and YXX’s competitive business platform. Unique in North America, YXX does not charge an Airport Improvement Fee, which allows airlines to increase capacity and provide lower fares in Abbotsford.
YXX has four national airlines including WestJet (since 1997), Swoop Airlines, Flair Airlines, and seasonal service on Air Canada Rouge, in addition to Island Express Air offering intra-BC flights.
YXX’s airline partners provide direct routes to Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, London Ontario, Toronto (seasonal), Nanaimo, Victoria, and Las Vegas, as well as seasonal service to Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.
“We are honoured to work alongside valuable airport partners like we have in Abbotsford to provide accessible travel options for Canadians,” said Steven Greenway, president, Swoop. “We’ve seen steady traveler demand in Abbotsford and it’s no surprise that this has helped lead to YXX’s record-breaking passenger volumes.”
Jim Young, president of Island Express Air, noted: “Abbotsford Airport has been Island Express Air’s home for the last nine years. Achieving a million passengers a year only continues our long partnership of providing fast convenient air service to Vancouver Island. We look forward to connecting more customers to more intra-BC destinations in the coming years.”
