Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver, CA 🇨🇦 Large International Airport Scheduled Service
ICAO
CYVR
IATA
YVR
Elevation
14 ft
Region
CA-BC
Local Time
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GPS Code: CYVR
Local Code: Not available
Location: 49.193901° N, -123.183998° E
Continent: North America
Type: Large International Airport
What Travelers Say
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Online Reviews Summary
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) garners a mixed but generally positive sentiment among travelers, having been consistently named the Best Airport in North America by Skytrax in both 2024 and 2025, and ranking 13th globally in 2025. While official accolades highlight its overall excellence, individual traveler reviews often point to specific areas of frustration, particularly concerning staff interactions and service inconsistencies.
What Travelers Love
- Overall High Rankings: YVR has been recognized as the Best Airport in North America by Skytrax for 14 out of the last 16 years, based on extensive passenger surveys.
- Cleanliness and Design: The airport is frequently praised for its cleanliness and sensible design, making it generally easy to navigate.
- Efficient Transportation Connections: The Canada Line (SkyTrain) offers excellent and frequent service directly connecting the airport to downtown Vancouver, often highlighted as a major strength.
- US Customs Pre-clearance: The ability to clear US Customs & Border Protection before departing to the United States is appreciated for making arrivals at US destinations feel like domestic flights.
- Accessibility Initiatives: Recent improvements include new accessibility programs like curbside greetings and expanded language services with sign language displays at departure gates.
Common Complaints
- Security Staff Attitude and Wait Times: Numerous reviews describe security staff as rude, dismissive, arrogant, or incompetent, leading to frustrating experiences. Wait times for security can also be unpredictably long, ranging from quick to over 30 minutes, or even up to 2 hours for oversized luggage.
- Limited and Expensive Amenities: Travelers frequently lament the limited and costly food and beverage options, with many establishments closing early, especially at night.
- Uncomfortable Seating and Temperature: A common grievance is the prevalence of seating with armrests, making it difficult to rest or sleep during layovers, coupled with reports of the airport being cold. Hot water dispensers have also been noted as out of service.
- Baggage Handling and Customs Bottlenecks: Some travelers have reported slow baggage delivery. While automated customs kiosks are available, some experience long lines and perceived bottlenecks at border guard stations.
- Confusing Signage: Instances of badly marked signs have led to confusion, particularly for transfers or navigation within the terminals and parking areas.
Overall, Vancouver International Airport is recognized for its modern infrastructure and efficient transit links, often performing well in international airport rankings. However, improving consistency in staff professionalism at security and customs, enhancing food and beverage availability during off-peak hours, and providing more comfortable resting areas could significantly improve the individual traveler experience.
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Airport Routes
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) offers 351 flight routes operated by 9 airlines. Major carriers include Air Canada, Jazz, WestJet and others. Popular destinations from Vancouver include Kelowna Int'l, Calgary Int'l, San Francisco Int'l, Victoria Int'l and Toronto Pearson Int'l.
Route Network Map
Top Routes (by observations)
- Kelowna Int'l (YLW) 13
- Calgary Int'l (YYC) 10
- San Francisco Int'l (SFO) 9
- Victoria Int'l (YYJ) 9
- Toronto Pearson Int'l (YYZ) 8
- Edmonton Int'l (YEG) 8
- Winnipeg Int'l (YWG) 8
- Los Angeles Intl (LAX) 7
- King County International Airport - Boeing Field (BFI) 7
- Portland Intl (PDX) 6
- Nanaimo (YCD) 6
- Kamloops (YKA) 6
Newly Discovered
Popular Flight Routes
| Destination | IATA | City | Aircraft Type | Airline | Details | Route Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Top Airlines
Operating at Vancouver International AirportAirlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network| Airline | Routes | Flights | Destinations | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Air Canada
ACA
/ AC
|
43 | 858 | 43 | Jan 31, 2026 |
Jazz
JZA
/ QK
|
30 | 794 | 30 | Jan 31, 2026 |
WestJet
WJA
/ WS
|
30 | 657 | 30 | Jan 31, 2026 |
|
WestJet Encore
WEN
/ WR
|
10 | 205 | 10 | Jan 31, 2026 |
|
Flair Airlines
FLE
/ F8
|
14 | 195 | 14 | Jan 29, 2026 |
|
Pacific Coastal Airlines
PCO
/ 8P
|
15 | 171 | 15 | Jan 27, 2026 |
|
Cargojet
CJT
/ W8
|
7 | 142 | 7 | Jan 17, 2026 |
Porter Airlines
POE
/ PD
|
4 | 133 | 4 | Jan 31, 2026 |
SkyWest
SKW
/ OO
|
4 | 131 | 4 | Jan 30, 2026 |
For Pilots
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
08L/26R |
9940 ft | 200 ft | CON | Active Lighted |
08R/26L |
11500 ft | 200 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
13/31 |
7300 ft | 200 ft | CON | Active Lighted |
XX/26A |
3500 ft | 75 ft | CON | Closed |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| APP | APP | 128.6 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 124.6 MHz |
| CLD | CLNC DEL | 121.4 MHz |
| DEP | DEP | 126.125 MHz |
| GND | GND | 121.7 MHz |
| RCO | PACIFIC RDO | 123.15 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 23.66 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 118.7 MHz |
Ground Transportation
Taxis
Taxis are available 24/7 at designated stands on Level 2 of the Domestic and International Arrivals areas. All taxis are licensed and use metered rates, with some fixed zone fares to popular destinations. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available.
Rental Cars
Major car rental companies are located on-site in the parkade, directly across from the terminal building. Companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National. Off-site rental agencies are also accessible via courtesy shuttles.
Public Transportation
The Canada Line SkyTrain provides a direct rail link from the airport (YVR-Airport Station) to downtown Vancouver in approximately 25 minutes. The station is located between the International and Domestic terminals. A $5 YVR AddFare is applied to most fares leaving the airport. Late-night bus service is also available when the SkyTrain is not running.
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