Meet The Winners: Halifax Stanfield International Airport

Having been victorious in the Under 5 Million Passengers category during the Routes Awards in Hong Kong, Halifax Stanfield International Airport share what this recognition means for the team.

The numbers at Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) showcase its strategic ambition having reached over 3.9 million passengers in 2024, an impressive 11.2% increase that has set the stage for projected growth to 4.2 million travelers in 2025.

Connectivity has surged across international markets with the airport network now spanning 30 international locations. “2025 was a very exciting year for us where we launched eight new routes, four of which were transatlantic with multiple airline partners operating these services," explains Chris de Man, Director at YHZ, speaking from Routes World 2025.

WestJet’s launch of 6X-weekly Amsterdam services in May was quickly followed by 4X-weekly Barcelona flights in June, opening new corridors between Atlantic Canada and continental Europe. Enhancing YHZ’s European connectivity further, Edelweiss commenced its inaugural Zurich service in July, operating seasonally until October.

While international expansion has captured attention, YHZ’s domestic network also flourished. WestJet added seasonal weekly services to Regina and Saskatoon, while Porter Airlines launched daily Hamilton flights.

Air Canada, YHZ’s largest airline partner, has also announced plans to launch weekly services to Nassau and Montego from December 2025.

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What sets YHZ apart is its comprehensive approach to sustainable growth, having invested in marketing campaigns, airport activations, and community events designed to ensure long-term viability. Its robust efforts and commendable success resulted in YHZ being crowned the Under 5 Million Passenger category winner at the Routes World Awards in Hong Kong.

"We're absolutely thrilled and honored to win this award," says Marie Manning, VP of business development and CCO at Halifax International Airport Authority. "It's a real achievement and recognition of the hard work that the entire team does on a regular basis."

Manning extended her gratitude to the aviation industry: “We’re so grateful to our airline partners for nominating us, as well as the panel of judges who recognized the work we do. Halifax is growing, and this wouldn’t be possible without the support of the airlines, as well as our tourism and government stakeholders.”

Alongside award recognition, the airport has also become North America’s most internationally connected airport in the under 10 Million Passenger category.

Reflecting on YHZ’s time at Routes World 2025, de Man credited the Routes team for their adaptability in adverse weather conditions: “The entire Routes team should be incredibly proud of the hard work and effort they have put in. This will be one of my most memorable Routes events.”

Serving the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada, YHZ has a geographic advantage offering shorter flight times between North America and Europe. As the airport looks toward its projected 4.2 million passengers in 2025, the regional gateway has transformed into a globally renowned success story.