Airports in BC, Airlines & Local West Coast Flights

Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a modern airport facility which first opened its doors in 1931. Now an international airport welcoming more than 17 million passengers to British Columbia, YVR partners with over 45 airlines connecting Vancouver to the four corners of the globe.  Given no traffic tie-ups, the airport is about a 25 minute drive to downtown Vancouver.  YVR is located in Richmond city, Greater Vancouver.

YVR offers a number of services and amenities including a wide range of restaurants, shops (and of course duty free shopping for international travellers), banking and currency exchange, luggage repair, pharmacy and a medical clinic, spa and open air massage stations, public transportation, taxi, car rentals and courtesy shuttle service to many nearby hotels in Richmond.  As a side note, also check ahead of time with the hotel you have booked to stay with if they provide a courtesy pickup and drop off shuttle service.

Rated as one of the top 10 airports in the world by various associations and surveys including Condé Nast Traveler 2008 Reader’s Award, you may just forget you are in an airport when you see the extensive collection of contemporary Northwest Coast Native art, and yes, there is even an aquarium with marine life indigenous to British Columbia!

Domestic Flight & Regional Airports

Vancouver Island:  Nanaimo Airport, Comox Valley Airport, Campbell River Airport, Campbell Island Airport (Bella Bella), Port Hardy Airport, Qualicum Beach Airport, Tofino Airport

Thompson Okanagan:  Kamloops Airport, Penticton Regional Airport, Grand Forks Airport, Shuswap Regional Airport (Salmon Arm), Vernon Regional Airport

Greater Vancouver & Fraser Valley: Delta Boundary Airport, Langley Regional Airport, Pitt Meadows Airport, Chlliwack Municipal Airport

Sunshine Coast:  Powell River Airport

Kootenay Rockies:  Castlegar Airport, The Trail (Columbia Gardens) Regional Airport

Cariboo Chilcotin Coast:  Williams Lake Regional Airport, Quesnel Airport, Anahim Lake Airport, Bella Coola Airport,

Northern BC:  Prince George Airport, Smithers Regional Airport, Northwest Regional Airport (Terrace/Kitimat), Prince Rupert Airport, Sandspit Airport, North Peace Regional Airport (Fort St John), Dawson Creek Airport, Mackenzie Airport

Vancouver Harbour Heliport & Seaplane Docks

Vancouver Harbour, located downtown along the Waterfront Road, services scheduled seaplanes and seasonal floatplanes from harbour to harbour along the West Coast including to and from Victoria, Nanaimo, Salt Spring Island and Comox.  Walking distance from Canada Place and situated close to the notable Waterfront station (formerly the Canadian Pacific Railway station which opened in the early 1900’s) accessing public transport including the SeaBus (linking downtown to North Vancouver), public buses, the SkyTrain and commuter rail service.

Local West Coast Flights, Seaplanes, Floatplanes, Helicopters & Private Charters

International & Domestic Airlines at Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Photo credits: Native Art at YVR courtesy Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver International Airport; Harbour Air Seaplane and Cruise Ship courtesy Tourism Vancouver, Harbour Air