Halifax Stanfield International Airport. File Photo.

Halifax Stanfield is still trying to recover to pre-pandemic passenger levels.

The Halifax International Airport Authority updated the city Thursday saying they expect to reach a total of 3.5 million passengers for 2023, roughly 85 per cent of pre-COVID numbers and about 10 per cent below other centres.

President and CEO, Joyce Carter, told councillors factors that have hurt the region are the industry-wide problem of aircraft and crew availability plus lack of Halifax service to Cape Breton, New Brunswick and PEI.

Carter added that the service to Newfoundland and Labrador, Halifax’s third biggest market, is only about half of pre-pandemic levels.

The HIAA expects 4 million passengers for 2024, which is closer to its pre-pandemic 4.2 million.