More choices and Canadians’ hesitancy to travel to the United States have contributed significantly to the surge in transatlantic passenger traffic from Halifax Stanfield International Airport this summer, according to stakeholders. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows a 40% increase in flights to Europe from Halifax compared to the same period last year, far surpassing the 1.8% rise seen across the rest of Canada and an eight percent uptick in North America.
Mikela Sani-Routledge, a spokesperson for the Halifax International Airport Authority, emphasized the airport’s status as the most internationally connected airport of its size in North America, attributing it to the investments made by airlines and travelers. Halifax currently boasts fifteen direct routes to European cities, a record for the airport, with new routes introduced by Air Canada and WestJet this year, including direct flights to Brussels.
The expansion of routes and increased flight frequencies are driving the spike in transatlantic travel, setting the stage for a projected record year at Halifax airport, with an expected 4.4 million passengers anticipated to pass through its gates in 2026. This year marks the inauguration of the airport’s new international connections facility, designed to streamline the movement of international passengers through the terminal.
Local travel agent Myranda Miller noted that many travelers in Halifax are capitalizing on the direct flights to Europe, with routes to destinations like Spain and Germany offering competitive pricing compared to domestic and U.S. trips. The decline in Canadian travel to the U.S., attributed to factors like tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, has opened up opportunities in other markets, leading to increased demand and more services to Europe.
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