WestJet Boosts Record April Traffic at Terrace’s YXT

Northwest Regional Airport Terrace Kitimat in northern British Columbia is entering a new phase of growth, with publicly available data and schedules indicating that April 2026 passenger volumes surpassed twenty two thousand as WestJet services joined Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Central Mountain Air in driving record traffic from key long haul markets including the United States, United Kingdom, India, France and Mexico.

Record Traffic Highlights YXT’s Expanding Role in Northern British Columbia

Airport reports and local tourism materials describe Northwest Regional Airport Terrace Kitimat, known by its IATA code YXT, as the primary aviation gateway for the Terrace, Kitimat and broader Skeena region. The facility has handled steadily rising passenger volumes in recent years, supported by industrial activity around Kitimat and increased domestic and international travel. Recent figures for April 2026 indicate that monthly passenger numbers have topped twenty two thousand movements, setting a new benchmark for the airport and reinforcing its status as one of Canada’s busier regional hubs.

Compared with pre pandemic years, the April 2026 total reflects both a recovery in domestic demand and a structural shift in how travelers reach northwest British Columbia. Connections to major Canadian gateways such as Vancouver and Edmonton are feeding a growing stream of visitors from overseas, particularly from the United States and Europe. Travel industry observers note that India, France and Mexico have emerged as important origin markets, with passengers typically reaching YXT via one or two connections through large hubs.

Regional planning documents and airport planning material characterize YXT as a critical link in the transport network for industrial projects and tourism in the surrounding area. The recent surge past twenty two thousand April passengers underscores how quickly demand is building. It also places fresh attention on how airlines are configuring their networks into Terrace Kitimat and how the airport is adapting on the ground.

WestJet Strengthens Domestic Connectivity Into Terrace Kitimat

WestJet has been steadily expanding its footprint in northern British Columbia, operating WestJet Encore turboprop services into Terrace Kitimat and positioning the airport as part of its broader western Canada network. Airline announcements in early 2026 describe plans for new or enhanced domestic routes for the summer period, including a direct connection between Edmonton and Terrace Kitimat, which is expected to add capacity into YXT during peak months.

Current schedules show WestJet operating regular services between Terrace Kitimat and Vancouver, with some flights marketed in cooperation with partner carriers that can connect onward to Europe and Mexico. This pattern allows passengers from long haul markets such as the United Kingdom, France and Mexico to reach YXT through same day connections via Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton. Travel search data and booking patterns point to these itineraries as an important contributor to the April 2026 volume.

The carrier’s presence is particularly significant for business travelers linked to energy, infrastructure and manufacturing projects in the Kitimat corridor. Publicly available information from regional development organizations highlights how industrial activity has driven demand for reliable links with major western Canadian cities. By consolidating Edmonton and Vancouver connectivity, WestJet is contributing to a more diversified schedule at YXT, complementing the offerings of Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Central Mountain Air.

Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Central Mountain Air Anchor Core Capacity

While WestJet has helped propel growth, the bulk of scheduled capacity into YXT continues to be provided by Air Canada, Air Canada Express and regional operator Central Mountain Air. Flight tracking data for April 2026 shows multiple frequencies each day between Terrace Kitimat and Vancouver under the Air Canada Express banner, often operating as code share services with international airlines. These connections are central to routing passengers from long haul markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, India and continental Europe.

Central Mountain Air supplements this network with services that link Terrace Kitimat to other communities in British Columbia and western Canada. Its role as a regional specialist has been important in maintaining year round connectivity to smaller destinations and in feeding traffic into the mainline networks of the larger carriers. Together, these airlines provide a schedule that spans early morning to late evening departures, offering flexibility for both inbound and outbound passengers.

Recent international aviation coverage has also pointed to capacity adjustments at both Air Canada and WestJet in response to higher jet fuel costs across Canada. Even amid these pressures, flight listings indicate sustained service into YXT, a sign that carriers view the airport as strategically important. The combination of mainline, regional and code share operations has enabled the airport to leverage demand from a wide mix of origin markets, from leisure travelers originating in Europe and Mexico to workers commuting from major cities across Canada.

International Markets Drive Indirect Traffic via Major Canadian Hubs

Although YXT does not host nonstop intercontinental flights, publicly available booking data and route maps show that the airport benefits from well established one stop and two stop itineraries from key global markets. Travelers from the United States often reach Terrace Kitimat by flying into Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton on large carriers and then transferring to a regional flight. Similar patterns apply for passengers from London and other United Kingdom cities, who typically connect through major Canadian or European hubs before continuing to YXT.

For India and France, air service development reports point to strong growth in traffic to western Canada’s larger airports, particularly Vancouver. From there, passengers can transfer to WestJet or Air Canada services into Terrace Kitimat. Mexico based travelers often follow a similar path, relying on northbound flights into Vancouver or Calgary with subsequent connections to YXT on Canadian carriers or partner airlines. These flows, while largely indirect, are increasingly evident in airport traffic counts.

The composition of April 2026 passengers at YXT therefore reflects a diverse mix of origin countries despite the airport’s regional scale. Industry observers note that this pattern aligns with broader trends in Canadian aviation, where secondary airports see record totals not through long haul nonstop flights, but through dense networks of short haul feeder services that plug into international hubs. YXT’s April numbers above twenty two thousand passengers illustrate how powerful that model can be when industrial, business and tourism demand align.

Infrastructure Upgrades Aim to Keep Pace With Growth

Terminal expansion works undertaken in recent years have focused on increasing capacity in the arrivals hall, improving baggage handling and easing congestion during peak periods. Regional news coverage references a multi year project between 2023 and 2026 that enlarged the arrivals area by roughly two thousand square feet, allowing for more efficient passenger flow as overall volumes rise. These investments were planned against forecasts that anticipated sustained growth, a trend now visible in the April 2026 totals.

Airport planning documents position these upgrades as part of a longer term strategy to support economic diversification and future traffic increases. By modernizing passenger facilities and enhancing operational resilience in challenging weather conditions, the airport aims to provide a smoother experience for travelers arriving from North American, European and Asian markets. Improved infrastructure also supports airline scheduling flexibility, making it easier to add or adjust frequencies as demand evolves.

Local tourism and economic development guides increasingly highlight easy access via YXT as a selling point for visitors and investors. As WestJet joins Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Central Mountain Air in carrying record numbers of passengers into Terrace Kitimat, the balance between airside growth and ground side capacity is likely to remain a central issue. The April 2026 milestone above twenty two thousand passengers suggests that Northwest Regional Airport Terrace Kitimat will continue to play an outsized role in connecting remote industry, Indigenous communities and outdoor destinations with travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, India, France, Mexico and beyond.