TORONTO — Cheapflights.ca has pulled the data, crunched the numbers and compiled its Canadian Airport Affordability Index for its third year.

The 2013 Airport Affordability Index ranks the 20 most popular Canadian and U.S. border airports based on the average airfares found to top destinations by Cheapflights users in the month of August.

The Cheapflights Canadian Airport Affordability Index offers an annual snapshot of airports and airfares. For comparison sake, the survey includes a column to show how rankings have changed since last year. This year, while Bellingham International retains the top spot, the rest of the U.S. border airports dropped in their rankings as Kelowna, Moncton and Victoria all jumped into the top five.

Vermont’s Burlington International was even dropped from the list as it wasn’t one of the top 20 most popular of the airports serving Canadians. Additionally, this year’s study shows the welcome news that many of the airfare averages for the month are down over 2012.

“Each year we compile the Airport Affordability Index as a baseline for comparing airports and airfares, both in the moment and over time,” said Melisse Hinkle, editor at Cheapflights.ca. “It’s a regular reminder that airfares are fluid and, to a degree, very local. Our advice to travellers is to cast a wide net when researching flights and make a point to be as open as possible to different airports, both departure and arrival, as well as travel days and dates. If you do your homework, you will know a deal when you spot it and can make the most of your travel budget by bagging a bargain.”

The four least affordable airports are Toronto Pearson, Halifax, Vancouver and St. John’s.