Calgary International Airport (YYC) has been declared the Overall Winner at the prestigious Routes Americas Awards this year, also clinching the award in the 5-20 million passenger category. This acknowledgment comes after a landmark year for YYC, having welcomed a record 18.5 million passengers, added a new airline partner, and introduced 24 new routes, including 10 destinations that were previously unserved. The airport’s ability to increase capacity on existing routes and shift several seasonal routes to year-round operations has been a key factor in its success.
Cindy Brown, Air Service Development Director at Calgary International Airport, expressed her gratitude for the recognition, attributing it to the hard work and dedication of the Calgary Airport Authority teams. The airport looks forward to further collaborations with airline partners on new and innovative initiatives.
Syracuse Hancock International Airport was named the winner in the under 5 million passenger category, celebrating a record-breaking year with 2.8 million passengers in 2023, a 12% increase over the previous year. The airport’s expansion of services, including the addition of new routes and the reintroduction of flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul, has been instrumental in its growth.
Orlando International Airport secured the top spot in the over 20 million passenger category, following a year of significant traffic growth to 58 million passengers and a 15% increase in capacity. The launch of Avianca’s Orlando-Quito service was among the notable achievements that helped expand its international route map.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. won the destination category award, recognized for its efforts to rebuild and enhance air service despite being one of the last Caribbean islands to lift COVID restrictions. The focus on increasing frequencies, capacity, and gateways from the Americas has led to the largest growth in the country’s history.
Air Canada took home the airline award, commended for its strategic network development and fleet expansion efforts. The airline’s introduction of new routes from Vancouver to Houston and Washington, as well as international services from Montreal to destinations such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Toulouse, reflects its commitment to sustainable growth and innovation.
The Routes Americas Awards, by celebrating the achievements of airports, destinations, and airlines, underscore the collaborative efforts within the aviation industry to enhance connectivity and passenger experience across the Americas and beyond.
