Windsor airport on track for banner year as travellers look beyond U.S. destinations

The Windsor International Airport is reporting one of its busiest years on record. CTV Windsor's Chris Campbell has the details.

Windsor International Airport is on pace for one of its busiest years on record, buoyed by steady growth in commercial flights, cargo traffic and flight training, even as travel to the United States shows signs of slowing.

Airport president and CEO Mark Galvin says aircraft movements in 2025 are trending well ahead of last year, driven by activity across several sectors.

“A lot of different factors go into that,” Galvin explained.

“We’re certainly seeing a little more cargo flights. We’re seeing a lot of flight school activity, a lot of general aviation activity. And we’re seeing some uptick in commercial flights as well.”

Galvin pointed to the return of seasonal sun destinations and increased domestic service as key contributors.

Air Transat is resuming direct flights to Punta Cana, while Air Canada has announced an additional daily flight to Toronto starting May 1. Porter and WestJet have also increased flight frequencies.

“So, we’re seeing incremental growth on a lot of different levels,” Galvin said.

“That’s sort of like a layer of cake. Each layer is a little thicker. And that leads to what we’re looking to be as a banner year for aircraft movements in 2025.”

He describes the rebound as gradual but meaningful following the pandemic.

“It’s slow, incremental growth, but slow growth is better than no growth,” Galvin continued.

“We’ll just keep working very hard to deliver those routes for the community and deliver those places where people want to go.”

According to Galvin, sun destinations remain especially popular during the winter months, with non-stop flights now available to Cancun, Varadero, Cuba, and Punta Cana.

“It’s a great thing for the community to have direct flights to the south to escape the winter,” Galvin stated.

“People want to vacation in the winter from Canada, and having an additional choice of Punta Cana is very helpful for us.”

The airport has also seen a notable increase in cargo traffic, which Galvin said may be tied to broader economic shifts.

“We’ve certainly seen a lot more cargo this year,” he said.

“Our general aviation and our flight schools are very busy. All those add up to a robust air movement.”

The strong local performance comes as industry data suggests Canadians are travelling less frequently to the United States. Galvin said Windsor’s route network may be insulating it from that trend.

“I think if we had a direct flight to the U.S., we may see that,” he said.

“But since all of our flights are either to non-U.S. sun destinations or to Toronto and Calgary, the flights we have are pretty full.”

He said travellers who may have previously headed south of the border appear to be choosing alternative destinations.

“I think people are finding if they were previously going to the States and they weren’t, now they’re finding a different place to go, whether it’s in Canada or elsewhere,” Galvin said.

As airports grow busier, local travel agents are urging travellers to plan ahead, especially when it comes to arrival times.

“One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is get to the airport early,” said Al Valente of Valente Travel in Windsor.

“You can get denied boarding if you’re not on the plane at least 20 to 30 minutes prior to departure.”

Valente said many travellers underestimate the time required at Windsor’s airport.

“People seem to forget that Windsor is still an international airport,” he told CTV News.

“They recommend three hours prior to your departure, and it is important to get there early.”

With non-stop flights from Windsor growing in popularity, Valente said demand is strong and expected to increase.

“I think we’re going to see airports getting busier, much busier and more congested,” he said.

“So again, I can’t stress enough — get to the airport early.”

Valente also cautioned travellers to pack smart and avoid rushing.

“One of the biggest mistakes I see is over-packing before you leave,” he said.

“And also leaving too late to get to the airport. Make sure you get there early, at least three hours prior to your international departure.”

Galvin said airport officials will continue working with airlines to respond to changing travel patterns as they look ahead to 2026.

“We try to respond to the trends and pivot to see what routes make sense for this community,” he said.