By Grant Warkentin

The Campbell River Airport (YBL) has had the busiest month of the entire year already this July, and there’s still more than a week left.

The City of Campbell River, which operates the airport, is celebrating the increased activity by sharing some recent statistics which may be surprising to many, including the total number of aircraft movements.

Last year, according to NAV Canada data, there were 49,730 total aircraft movements at YBL, more than the sum of the 13,480 movements at Comox (YQQ) and 30,240 in Nanaimo (YCD). For comparison, Victoria International Airport (YYJ) had 107,913 aircraft movements last year.

“A round of applause to our incredible NAV Canada team and airport staff who keep our skies safe and efficient during our busiest month of the year,” the city says.

NAV Canada defines an “aircraft movement” as a takeoff, landing, or simulated approach. It also defines a “simulated approach” as “movements that are either missed instrument or practice instrument approaches without landing.”

The Campbell River airport is a hub for flight training companies, including Sealand Aviation, which recently won the 2025 COPA Flight School of the Year award and is recognized as the first in Canada to offer training on the Pipistrel Velis Electro, a fully-electric aircraft.

The airport is also home to the Campbell River Air Tanker Base, which is a seasonal base operated by the BC Wildfire Service, and is currently in use helping fight forest fires on Vancouver Island and the mainland.

Last month, WestJet began using the airport to provide direct connections to Calgary, Alberta, offering daily flights four times per week from June 22 to September 6.

By the numbers

49,730: Total aircraft movements managed by the NAV Canada Flight Services Station at YBL in 2025.
#2: YBL’s rank as the second-busiest Flight Services Station in all of Canada.
#34: Our rank as the 34th busiest airport in the country overall (including those with full NAV Canada control towers).
+8%: How much total air traffic has already increased year-over-year so far in 2026. YBL is officially on track to shatter last year’s records.

Data source: Statistics Canada 23-10-0296-01