Over 85 aerospace businesses are located within Waterloo Region employing more than 3,240 residents. The Region of Waterloo International Airport also hosts the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, one of the top flight schools in Canada. 

The Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) is home to 25 businesses that employ 300 people and together, contribute $90 million annually to the local economy. YKF consistently ranks as one of the top 20 busiest airports in Canada

In February 2025, the Chair’s roundtable on aviation and aerospace was launched, bringing together local industry leaders to collaborate, advocate, share learnings, and foster opportunities to grow the sector in Waterloo Region. Recently, YKF welcomed the first flight of the Bombardier Global 8000. YKF provides the infrastructure and support to handle the unique requirements for the final stages of aircraft production, where Bombardier can conduct last-minute testing, maintenance flights, and certification activities.