Yellowknife Airport recorded 604,000 passengers in 2024, the territorial government said on Tuesday – an 18-percent year-on-year increase.
In a press release, the territory said growth was driven by “increased regional travel, expanded airline routes, more flight frequencies, and heightened interest in tourism and business opportunities.”
The airport’s record year remains 2019, when 646,030 passengers were recorded.
Travel then dropped dramatically in 2020 and 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic ushered in travel restrictions that kept most people out of the NWT.
As travel and tourism gradually rebound from that, NWT infrastructure minister Caroline Wawzonek called 2024’s figures “remarkable growth.” (The 18-percent figure beats 14.6 percent reported last year by the airport, which is known by its airport code, YZF.)
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The 2024 increase “underscores the vital role of air travel in supporting tourism, economic growth, and new opportunities for northerners,” Wawzonek was quoted as saying.
NWT Tourism chief executive officer Donna Lee Demarcke thanked airlines for “hearing our industry’s concerns over the importance of flight frequency, capacity, and scheduling.”
“As we continue to market this unique and increasingly sought-after destination, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors in the years ahead and supporting a successful and thriving tourism industry,” Demarcke was quoted as saying.
The airport – which just gave one of its seating areas a makeover – said its plans include a new website, redesigned parking lot, better washrooms and pre-flight screening, and more upgrades that “improve convenience and comfort.”
No timeline was attached to any of those. A broader airport master plan anticipates that a whole new terminal will eventually be needed, given the existing terminal is nearly 60 years old.
