FORT McMURRAY — Passenger traffic at Fort McMurray International Airport declined slightly in 2025, although the airport authority says new routes, infrastructure investments and expanded partnerships are positioning YMM for future growth.
The figures were released May 8, 2026 during the Fort McMurray Airport Authority’s annual general meeting.
The Fort McMurray Airport Authority says total passenger traffic reached about 340,000 travellers in 2025, down from roughly 353,000 in 2024. Despite the decline, the airport projects passenger volumes will rebound to approximately 365,000 in 2026.
In its 2025 annual report, the airport authority described the year as one focused on “strengthening our role as a reliable gateway, a responsible operator, and a valued community asset.”
A major development in 2025 was the launch of Air Canada’s non-stop service between Fort McMurray and Vancouver, which airport officials say significantly improved national connectivity and strengthened YMM’s position in the regional aviation market.
The airport authority also acknowledged ongoing challenges with “passenger leakage,” where regional travellers choose to begin trips from larger airports outside Wood Buffalo, often because of perceived cost savings or route options. The report says leakage weakens demand signals airlines use when deciding whether to expand service or add routes.
YMM says it plans to launch a targeted loyalty campaign in 2026 encouraging residents to “Fly YMM,” emphasizing convenience, time savings and the economic impact of supporting the local airport.
The airport also highlighted continued efforts to diversify revenue beyond airline operations. In 2025, YMM partnered with Canadian rideshare company Uride and added Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory to its terminal offerings as part of broader commercial development efforts.
Operationally, the airport reported more than 1,000 maintenance work orders completed during the year, alongside over 7,200 equipment hours logged. Crews also completed 425 hours of runway crack sealing and used more than 2,000 litres of paint on airport infrastructure.
The report says YMM continued environmental initiatives in 2025, maintaining Level 2 accreditation through the Airport Carbon Accreditation program. The airport’s unverified carbon footprint reached 3,561 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, up 12 per cent from 2024 but still below the airport’s three-year rolling average.
Airport officials also pointed to growing community engagement, including more than $50,000 in in-kind support for local organizations and sold-out public events such as Pumpkins and Planes and Photos with Santa.
The airport authority says Fort McMurray International Airport supports more than 40 businesses and 500 jobs on airport lands, generating an estimated economic impact of more than $290 million annually for the region.
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