Why? This post shares some important information on low visibility operations at YVR and what this means for passengers.

Weather is one of the most significant factors for flight operations. Conditions like heavy rain, fog, wind and other inclement weather that causes low visibility requires our teams to be flexible and responsive.

In the simplest terms, visibility refers to how well you can see in front of you. In aviation, visibility is measured as how well a pilot can see and recognize the runway. This is categorized as reduced visibility operations (RVOP) or low visibility operations (LVOP), where visibility ranges between 600 to 2,600 feet. To help put this into perspective, this range is equivalent to between three and 13 hockey rinks, end-to-end.

When visibility drops below 600 feet, or when lightning is detected in the immediate vicinity of the airport, a ground stop may be activated, meaning no aircraft can arrive or depart. This is a measure to ensure the safety of travellers, employees and our community.

During LVOP and RVOP conditions, YVR remains fully operational for arriving and departing aircraft. We have Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in place to allow aircraft to land at YVR.

However, in RVOP and LVOP situations we work closely with NAV Canada. Air traffic controllers adjust the rate of arrivals and departures to ensure the safety of passengers, employees, and our community. Just like drivers allow more space between them and the vehicle ahead in inclement weather conditions, so must pilots with aircraft. As a result, fewer planes land and takeoff per hour on our runways in reduced and low visibility conditions. This may cause delays or other impacts to flight schedules.

At YVR, we recommend that you always check the status of your flight with your airline or on YVR.ca before arriving at the airport, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport safely and make it to your gate on time, and prepare for delays if fall weather persists.

Safe travels this fall!

The four-times weekly service marks Western Canada’s first and only non-stop flight to the United Arab Emirates, advancing YVR as a diverse global hub and providing more options for travellers as well as greater opportunities for business, international education, and tourism across our region.

Travellers will arrive in Dubai in approximately 15 hours from YVR and enjoy all the region has to offer as well as increased onward global connections from DXB through Air Canada’s partnership with Emirates.

Every new international flight to YVR creates value for British Columbia, with service to Dubai generating an estimated $30.4 million for the local economy and as many as 63 full-time operations jobs in the province.

We are thrilled to welcome this new route and connect Western Canada with the United Arab Emirates for the benefit of our community and the economy that supports it.

Service to Dubai takes off starting October 28, 2023, with service on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, departing YVR at 9:15 p.m. and arriving to DXB at 12:05 a.m. two days later. Passengers on flights to and from Dubai will fly on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with 298 seats.

For further details on this new service and to book, please visit www.aircanada.com.

On Friday, October 13, nine teams took part in pulling one of YVR's firetrucks, Red 9, weighing 27,000 kilograms. Each team set out to fundraise a minimum of $3,500 in support of Hope Air. They went above and beyond, raising an impressive $21,500 in total! The teams went head-to-head in a friendly competition to see who could pull the firetruck the fastest, with the fastest pull time earning the 2023 Haul for Hope championship.

Taking into account fundraising efforts and the pull times, below are the winners:

• First place: High Heat Haulers 2: North Vancouver, Port Moody and Coquitlam Fire Department representatives (pull time of 28.59 seconds)
• Second place: High Heat Haulers 1: North Vancouver, Port Moody and Coquitlam Fire Department representatives (pull time of 29.11 seconds)
• Third place: YVR Mod Squad: one of three Vancouver Airport Authority teams (pull time of 37.54 seconds)

⁠Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing support through flights, accommodations, meal vouchers and ground transportation to Canadians in financial need, who must travel to reach medical care far from home. All funds raised from this event will go towards Hope Air’s mission of ensuring no patient is left behind when accessing vital medical care.

YVR’s commitment to the longstanding partnership with Hope Air is strengthened by shared values of serving the community, especially during times of greatest need.

The event signified the hurdles that patients from remote communities in Canada face when accessing lifesaving medical care.

Our partners at Hudson News Stores (Avolta Group) are also showing their support for Hope Air by allowing shoppers to round up their transactions, with funds raised going to Hope Air.

Currently, Hope Air has already facilitated over 16,000 travel arrangements, surpassing the annual record in the first two thirds of the year for children and families in need of medical care. The number of travel arrangements is expected to reach over 17,000 by the end of 2023.

Airport operations will not be affected by this exercise. Signs will be posted around the site location in the terminal to notify and remind travellers, employees and our community of the exercise. All information and updates related to the large-scale emergency simulation will be the prefaced by Exercise Exercise, Exercise to not create confusion with regular operations.

Safety and security is our top priority. Each year, YVR conducts a number of additional simulation exercises to test protocols, procedures, communications and planning for emergency and security related incidents. By simulating emergency situations, we can better prepare for the unlikely event of a real-life emergency at YVR.

Regular operational updates will continue to be available on YVR.ca and on our Twitter/X channels @yvrairport and @yvraeroport.

We are thrilled to share the results from a busy summer travel season full of operational accomplishments throughout our airport. We welcomed over 7.1 million passengers from July through September. This represents a 21.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year, and it's on par with our pre-pandemic numbers in 2019.

August, in particular, stood out as YVR's busiest month of the summer. During B.C. Day weekend, we saw 328,422 passengers from Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 7.

Our summer travel passenger increase is largely made possible by the expanded services provided by our valued airline partners. Notably, Air Canada has continued to contribute significantly to our growth, introducing new destinations like Miami and Washington Dulles. Plus, we're excited about direct service to Dubai, which will be taking off in October 2023, opening exciting new horizons for our passengers.

At YVR, we are passionate about enhancing your travel experience and ensuring that our values of safety, innovation, teamwork, and accountability are at the core of everything we do. This summer, our dedicated team and the entire YVR community have worked tirelessly to make your journey through the airport smoother and more enjoyable.

During this bustling season, we connected more passengers to more destinations. Additionally, we acted swiftly to support our community during one of British Columbia's most challenging wildfire seasons. We are proud of the partnerships we've forged and the work we've undertaken with the Musqueam Nation to strengthen our commitment to the region. 

Let's take a moment to highlight some key numbers and activities that underscore the achievements from our busy summer travel season:

Flights: YVR welcomed a total of 59,796 arriving and departing flights, all serviced by our 110 airline partners.

Baggage Handling: Our dedicated team processed more than 2.5 million outbound bags, ensuring your luggage reached its destination safely and promptly.

Digital Tools: The airport saw strong uptake of its new digital tools. YVR Express was used by 76,789 departing passengers, representing approximately 10 per cent of travellers flying during the service’s operating hours. YVR’s Passenger Journey Tool logged nearly 527,000 views.

Community Support and Partnerships

YVR is not just an airport; we are an integral part of the community. In July, we raised and donated a total of $50,000 for wildfire relief efforts in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. We also played a crucial role in facilitating medical and evacuation flights from B.C. and N.W.T., providing vital support during challenging times.

In August, we proudly opened our Musqueam Gathering Place, which was accompanied by the unveiling of a hand-crafted 30-foot ocean-going canoe, a symbol of our commitment to nurturing cultural connections.

Throughout the summer, YVR hosted two Musqueam Marketplace events in the terminal, showcasing the talent of local Indigenous artisans and makers. We also introduced Purebread, a beloved local bakery, adding to our other regional offerings, including Salmon N’Bannock On The Fly, Dirty Apron, and Pacific Farms Market. Our aim is to continually elevate the shopping and dining experience for passengers, employees, and the entire community.

As we look forward to the future, we encourage all travellers to plan ahead, arrive early, and leverage YVR's digital tools to help streamline your travel journey. Visit YVR.ca/TravelPlanning for more tips and information for your next trip.

We understand that travelling can be an overwhelming experience for some, which is why we're excited to announce that the Less Airport Stress Initiative (LASI) will continue as a permanent fixture here at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), helping ensure our committed to making your as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

LASI is an innovative program that introduces ambassador dogs from the St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Program into our terminals. These aren't just ordinary dogs, they're highly trained therapy dogs ready to provide emotional support and comfort to travellers experiencing anxiety associated with travel.

During the busy summer travel season, we welcomed back six therapy dogs to our terminals. These canine ambassadors worked their magic five days a week, interacting with travellers, soothing nerves, and spreading cheer. Over the summer, they collectively dedicated approximately 174 hours to supporting passengers. That's 174 hours of tail wags, friendly snuggles, and heartwarming moments, making your journey a pleasant experience.

The resounding success and heartwarming impact of the LASI program have led to its place as a permanent passenger amenity at YVR. We're also actively working on expanding the program to operate seven days a week.

Pet-Friendly Amenities: Simplifying Travel with Your Pets

In addition to the LASI program, the airport offers convenient pet relief areas both pre-security and post-security, eliminating the need for travelers to exit the terminal.

Pre-Security

• Chester Johnson Park entrance: An outdoor pet relief area can be found at the entrance to Chester Johnson Park outside International Arrivals.

• South Terminal entrance: Another outdoor pet relief area is available across from the north entrance of our South Terminal.

Post-Security

• A/B Pier: Located across from the play area, before Starbucks.

• C Pier: Situated across from Gate C29, right of the washrooms in the alcove.

• D Pier: Found across from Gate D72, near Gates 76 and 77, and between gates 58 and 62.

• South Terminal: Conveniently located by Gate G1-2, adjacent to the vending machines in the corner.

Passengers requiring assistance in locating these areas can contact our Customer Information Line at 604-207-7077. Travellers planning to fly with pets are encouraged to contact their airlines directly for guidance on policies specific to each carrier.

On Thursday, August 31st, 2023, we held an end of summer Block Party to celebrate one of our busiest summers, with food samples and activities stationed throughout the airport.

Our Block Party featured some of the finest treats from more than 20 of our local vendors and commercial partners, who offer the best of B.C. to travellers, employees and guests every day.

This exciting event also featured limited-time installations such as a Money Machine, carnival games, and a unique prize wheel. Everyone who travelled through the airport, as well as our airport staff and community, had a chance to win different prizes, coupons, and samples as they explored more of B.C. right from our airport.

Thank you to World Duty Free, Hudson Group, Salmon n’ Bannock, UpMeals, and all our other vendors for participating.

The summer of 2023 is slated to be one of YVR’s busiest summers since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with August being the busiest month. Almost seven million passengers are expected to walk through YVR between July and September alone, noting a significant increase from the six million during the same period in 2022.

In addition to these numbers, we are also celebrating many other notable totals so far this summer.

• 80,000: We continue to welcome approximately 80,000 travellers every day
• 64,000: Our partners at Purebread have sold over 64,000 sweet and savoury pastries, which have been enjoyed by travellers, guests and our entire airport community alike.
• 8,589: Our partners at 7/11, located in our Domestic Terminal on Level 1, have sold 8,589 Slurpees.
• 25 and 874: YVR also welcomed 25 musicians who played a total of 874 hours to entertain passengers at different spots around the airport.

Photo credit: Fraser Health Authority

In the early morning hours of August 19, YVR assisted in the coordination of a medical evacuation flight under the leadership of B.C.’s Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

As wildfires were threatening communities and cities in the Northwest Territories, forcing the evacuation of Yellowknife, YVR and PHSA’s Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) worked to establish a facility on Sea Island where medical patients could be received. This facility, once set up, was equipped with beds and supporting medical devices.

A Royal Canadian Air Force C-17 Globemaster arrived at 12:30 a.m. on August 19. It was carrying several patient evacuees from Yellowknife who were triaged at the established medical facility near YVR’s South Terminal and transported to area healthcare facilities.

We are proud of the team that helped in providing these patients the care they needed during a difficult and stressful time. This operation took a large amount of coordination and we appreciate and are grateful for the efforts of so many YVR staff, Signature Flight Support, Securiguard and AeroMag.

We also supported and worked with many partners, including PHSA, BC Emergency Health Services, HEMBC, First Nations Health Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and Providence Health Care.

As Canada continues to experience its most impactful wildfire season, YVR is continuing to match donations made to the Red Cross Wildfire fund here.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Musqueam Indian Band (Musqueam) are excited to introduce a very special space in the airport terminal, dedicated to Musqueam culture and history.

On Wednesday August 9^th, 2023, The Musqueam Gathering Place, was unveiled at YVR alongside the centerpiece for the space, a stunning hand-crafted 30-foot ocean-going canoe – created by Musqueam master carvers who shared traditional skills passed down through generations.

In 2019, 126 YVR staff joined with representatives from 10 Musqueam families to embark on a remarkable journey that involved carving this canoe from a 600-year-old red cedar log.

The gathering place and the canoe are a testament to the rich heritage of Musqueam people. This is a place where airport passengers and guests can immerse themselves in Musqueam culture, learn about deep-rooted traditions, and gain a greater appreciation for the unceded and continuously occupied land that YVR and Musqueam call home. More than just a physical space, the Musqueam Gathering Place embodies a shared commitment to preserving cultural identity as well as fostering understanding and encouraging learning.

The Musqueam Gathering Place and canoe embody a significant milestone that highlights the collaborative spirit and deep connection between YVR and the Musqueam community. This partnership is further solidified by the Musqueam Indian Band - YVR Airport Sustainability & Friendship Agreement, historically signed in 2017 outlining the commitment to a sustainable and mutually beneficial future.

The unveiling will celebrate the latest of the many successes we’ve shared thus far, including the raising of a Musqueam Welcome Figure at Chester Johnson Park, the raising of the Friendship banners on Grant McConachie Way, and the naming and opening of xʷq̓axintəl’ ct [walking together] parkway (formerly known as the Templeton Corridor), and more.

August 9 also marks the annual United Nations International Day of World's Indigenous People. It is observed each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.

Vancouver International Airport has received Level 1 Customer Experience Accreditation by Airports Council International (ACI), an achievement that showcases YVR’s focus on delivering the best possible experience to passengers and the airport community.

In a momentous celebration of Indigenous art and collaboration, the Musqueam Indian Band and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) have come together to unveil a stunning display of custom artwork on YVR's newest fire and rescue truck, Red 5.

The artwork, designed by talented Musqueam artist Summer Cannell, beautifully weaves her cultural heritage into the vibrant design, signifying a powerful connection between her Musqueam culture and the airport.

Selected through an open call for Musqueam artists, Summer's artwork adorns the truck with traditional Musqueam design elements, featuring six majestic thunderbirds gracing the side and rear panels.

July 22 is a special day for us—it is the day we opened our doors as the gateway from B.C. to the world. And this year, we are 92 years young. In 1931 our airport was a single runway, a small wood-framed two-story administration building, two concrete hangars, a floatplane harbour, and a control tower. In fact, this building, with many renovations and enhancements since, is now our South Terminal.

Today, we proudly stand as Canada's second busiest airport and a trailblazer in the global aviation industry. Known for our commitment to innovation, steady growth, and representation of the very essence of our region, we are dedicated to serving our community and the economy that supports it.

As we reflect on 92 years of extraordinary history and entrepreneurial spirit, we see many accomplishments worth recognizing together with our community, employees, and partners. From expansions of our terminals to noteworthy environmental achievements, from the launch of new routes to invaluable community partnerships, we are thrilled to share a handful of our most memorable moments.

Memorable moments:

1931 - The opening of Sea Island Airport and Seaplane Harbour on July 22, 1931, was a celebration complete with an air show, four-day open house, and an attendance of 55,000 people. The runway was 2,350 feet long and the airport's two hangars could hold 12 large planes or 30 small aircraft with wings folded!

1937 - Trans-Canada Airlines, now Air Canada, launched service to Vancouver. New destinations served by the airline out of Vancouver included Prince George, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Whitehorse, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal.

1947- The City of Vancouver resumed control of Vancouver Airport. 16 years after opening, with the addition of scheduled international air service to and from Vancouver, the airport's name officially changed to what it is known as today: Vancouver International Airport.

1968 - A new international terminal opened. It served 1.9 million passengers in its first year. The expansion prompted new carriers, new routes and increased frequencies, including Japan Airlines as the first Asian-based carrier to operate at YVR. Comparatively in 2019 our international and U.S. terminals served 13.7 million passengers.

1992 - Between 1992 and 1996, the airport's new $250 million International Terminal was built by the Airport Authority. A portion of the old Domestic Terminal was demolished to make room for the new facility.

1993 - In December 1993, YVR served 10 million passengers in one year for the first time. By 2010, YVR served more than 16 million passengers and by 2019, the airport served nearly 27 million passengers.

1996 - On a leap day in 1996 a new airline partner- WestJet-landed at YVR for the first time. Vancouver was among WestJet's five original destinations when it launched service on February 29,1996.

2003 - We made it to the top! YVR was named the Best Airport in North America by Skytrax World Airport Awards for the very first time. In 2009, we'd be recognized again for 11 years in a row until present day.

2015 -New high score! We welcomed the airport's 20 millionth annual passenger in December of 2015.

2017 - YVR signed the historic Musqueam Indian Band - YVR Airport Sustainability and Friendship Agreement. It's a 30-year agreement meant to achieve a sustainable and mutually beneficial future for our community.

2020 – In March 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic brought air travel to a near halt. By April 18, 2020, we were welcoming approximately 1,500 travellers per day, the least amount of daily passengers in recent decades, comparatively, an average day in 2019 saw approximately 75,000 passengers a day.

2021 - Pier D complete! Despite the challenges of the pandemic, YVR remained operational, serving our community and advancing important work in the terminal, including opening our newly expanded International Terminal. It now features eight new gates, a glassed-in forest with access to the outdoors, an immersive digital experience and a yoga, prayer and quiet room. This was a significant project in the history of YVR and our largest expansion since 1996.

2023 – We remain focused on the future of YVR and our role as a platform for our community to come together and thrive. We are on track to welcome nearly 7 million travellers from July to September and are leading a number of exciting initiatives that benefit our community and the economy that supports it.

While this celebration affords us the opportunity to reflect on 92 years of remarkable achievements, our true message is one of heartfelt gratitude. We extend our deepest thanks to our community, business partners, and dedicated employees who have played an integral role in shaping the success of YVR. Your unwavering support, invaluable contributions, and ongoing commitment to excellence have propelled us to great heights and allowed us to proudly connect British Columbia to the world. Without you, none of our accomplishments would have been possible.

For the latest travel information, visit yvr.ca or follow the airport on Twitter: @YVRAirport or @YVRAeroport.

YVR is on a journey to create an incredible culinary experience for our guests, welcoming top local brands and offerings to our terminal for everyone to enjoy. We are delighted to announce that Purebread, a favourite local brand, is now open, marking our 14th culinary opening in the past 18 months.

Located in the pre-security area of YVR’s main terminal, near the International Food Court on Departures Level 3, Purebread is bringing warm and welcoming customer service, great coffee and of course, decadent baked goods to YVR. Whether you’re boarding a flight, picking someone up or just live in the area, you’ll be able to enjoy a freshly made taste of local excellence.

Originally a stall at a Whistler Christmas market, Purebread’s family-owned bakery has grown to seven busy locations across Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and now Richmond, serving a range of delicious breads, cakes, treats and savoury baked goods made with real, high-quality ingredients. Their pastries have already been enjoyed by the many domestic travellers who have picked up a sweet treat from Pacific Farms Market in the domestic terminal after security.

At YVR, we love working with local businesses to provide amazing food and drinks that support our community and provide a taste of B.C. to visitors.

We’ve already started transforming our food and beverage options. You might have noticed new additions like Salmon n’ Bannock On The Fly, The Dirty Apron, Pacific Farms Market and Japadog in the terminal, all serving up fresh, healthy, locally made grab-and-go items to enjoy at your gate or on your flight. We are so excited to add Purebread to this list and have lots more exciting additions coming up.

YVR is a place that brings ideas, data and people together and connects them to the rest of the world. Building on our award-winning sense of place and through our updated culinary offerings, we are proud to share B.C.’s vibrant food scene with the rest of the world, showcasing the best of our community through the universal language of food.

Today Air Canada announced that it will begin nonstop service to Singapore Changi Airport from YVR. The new route, which launces April 3, 2024, will operate four times weekly and is another key connection for Air Canada, which continues to build its Asia Pacific hub out of YVR.

Nonstop service to Singapore links passengers and businesses to this vibrant global city and will further develop YVR as a diverse global hub, providing direct access to several important markets across the Indo-Pacific area and supporting diversified trade and investment opportunities that benefit our local economy.

Every new international flight to YVR can generate up to $36 million for the B.C. economy and generate as many as 320 new jobs in the province.

The service will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, departing YVR is 12:15 a.m. and arriving to Changi at 7:10 a.m. the next day. Passengers on flights to and from Singapore will fly on a Boeing 787 with 298 seats.

We look forward to welcoming this new service to Singapore in April 2024.

YVR’s roadmap to net-zero carbon emissions: In 2022, YVR became the first airport in Canada to achieve Level 4+ (Transition) – the highest level that can be achieved under the international Airport Carbon Accreditation program. A big part of what got us there is that we are already carbon neutral and we have committed to reaching net zero by 2030. Some of our other key programs and initiatives include replacing over 20,000 light bulbs throughout the terminal with LED lighting, saving 1.978 GWh per year – equivalent to the electricity used by 181 homes in B.C., adding more electric vehicles to our fleet and replacing our heating systems – making it more energy efficient. Our journey continues...

Waste diversion and management, plastics reduction and more: As part of YVR’s 2020-2024 Environmental Management Plan, we continue to improve our existing waste reduction and recycling programs whilst simultaneously implementing new ones in efforts to increase our waste diversion rate. YVR has successfully achieved 50% of terminal waste diversion rates through innovations and programs like:

1. OSCAR Sort – AI-powered Waste Sorting Bins: OSCAR is an AI-powered waste sorting bin that ensures that waste is sorted and disposed efficiently and sustainably. It is an innovative solution that scans and detects items with a camera and automatically sorts them based on its respective trash category. If you find them around the airport, be sure to say hi and sort your trash accordingly.
2. Chopstick Recycling Program with ChopValue: Did you know that over 1 million chopsticks from YVR’s food courts have been recycled into the tables, art, or decoration that you see around our terminals? That’s equivalent to at least nine tonnes of waste that’s been diverted from going into landfills. Through YVR’s partnership with ChopValue, we’ve been able to successfully recycle waste and turn them into viable products that encourage consumers to be more conscious with their consumption behavior and waste management. Be sure to check them out on your next trip through YVR.
3. Single-Use Plastics Reduction Plan: At YVR, we have developed and implemented a Single-Use Plastics Reduction Plan to align with federal and municipal regulations. Through this plan, our commercial partners are moving towards paper and fibre-based alternatives to single-use plastic food service ware and take-out bags. We’re committed to supporting our commercial partners during this transition through education & awareness of legislation and sustainable alternatives.
4. Commercial Partner Spring Training Campaign and our favourite Waste Wars competition: YVR’s Climate & Environment team works closely with our food & beverage tenants to improve their knowledge of YVR’s waste management best practices and initiatives. We will be back this year with our favourite Waste Wars competition that challenges our food & beverage tenants to sort and recycle their waste the best and fight for the highly coveted Chop Value chopstick trophy!

If you would like to learn more about YVR’s environmental initiatives visit - https://www.yvr.ca/en/about-yvr/environment

For more than 30 years, YVR has been at the forefront of delivering inclusive and accessible facilities and guest services for people of all abilities. Beyond Accessibility builds on this commitment and inspires us to look beyond regulatory requirements and continue to play a leadership role in delivering an inclusive and accessible airport experience.

Our new plan was co-developed with input from our community partners and is designed to meet and exceed compliance with the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). The plan follows the seven focus areas of the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (ATPDR), outlining what has been achieved, what was learned from consulting with the public, and areas for improvement. This includes continuing to enhance terminal facilities, communications technology, support programs, work environment and procurement practices.

On that note, here are seven ways that YVR is going Beyond Accessibility:

1. Our airport terminals are built to reflect universal design, ease of use and the needs of the community we serve. YVR has an Accessibility Certified Gold rating from the Rick Hansen Foundation – a rating system to measure the accessibility of buildings and sites. YVR was the first airport to complete the assessment and one of the highest-rated buildings in the program, receiving 93 out of 100 points. We are not stopping there and continue to look at ways we can make the terminal experience even better for our guests.
2. We have incorporated customer-inspired features in our newly expanded international terminal, which includes additional private washrooms, a quiet room, animal relief areas, a variety of seating options, and a new style of charging units; providing a dementia-friendly community; we are also offering the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program; and, continue to collaborate with key partners like Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) to support neuro-diverse individuals and their families in their journey through YVR.
3. Our website is WCAG-AA 2.0 compliant, meaning it is designed to meet accessibility requirements, including persons using adaptive technology. As part of our plan, we are aiming to go beyond to ensure meaningful access to information through our website.
4. We continue to focus on and invest in digital tools and innovative technologies to streamline the travel journey and ensure equal access for everyone.
5. Our employee training programs are designed in collaboration with leaders in the field of accessibility and inclusion who have practical knowledge and lived experience – this helps our employees understand language, communications and helping techniques to best support people of all abilities.
6. We offer accessibility tours in collaboration with our community partners to help individuals be prepared, confident and comfortable with the travel experience. From check-in and security screening through locating their departure gate and boarding, the experiential tours provide the opportunity for guests to practice their travel journey.
7. In collaboration with key partners like the Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN), we are developing travel training resources to support neuro-diverse individuals and their families in their journey through the airport. This summer, we are also planning to introduce new and exciting initiatives to create training and employment opportunities for neuro-diverse individuals.

As outlined in our Accessibility Plan, we will continue to work with our many community partners on a variety of new and innovative accessibility services and solutions, including creating more sensory-friendly and quieter spaces throughout the airport, upgrading existing self-service bag drops in our Domestic Terminal, exploring opportunities for guests with accessibility considerations to familiarize themselves with the airport in advance by touring YVR using our Digital Twin.

To learn more about accessibility at YVR and read our Accessibility Plan, Beyond YVR, visit www.YVR.ca/Accessibility.

Exciting news for travellers from Vancouver! Air Canada has started service from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Starting today, Air Canada will operate five roundtrips per week between YVR and IAD, making it easier than ever to travel between the Pacific Northwest and the U.S. East Coast.

The inaugural flight of this new route will depart from YVR at 8:15 am on June 1, 2023, and arrive at IAD at 4:16 pm local time. This new route will be operated by Air Canada's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which features a comfortable and spacious cabin with plenty of legroom for passengers as well. The aircraft also provides an in-flight entertainment system with a touchscreen display offering on-demand music movies, games, and wellness applications.

Washington Dulles International Airport is located just 41 kilometers west of downtown Washington, DC and is one of the busiest airports in the United States.

With this new route, travellers from Vancouver will have more options than ever before when it comes to travelling to Washington, DC and the surrounding area. Whether you're planning a business trip, a family vacation, or a romantic getaway, this new route makes it easy to get to your destination quickly and comfortably.

For the latest travel information, visit yvr.ca or follow the airport on Twitter: @YVRAirport or @YVRAeroport.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Vancouver Airport Authority, Chair Annalisa King is pleased to announce the election of Corey Sue to the Board of Directors. Corey was nominated by the City of Vancouver.

Corey is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holding a Fellowship from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), and brings extensive senior financial leadership experience to the YVR Board.

He has over 25 years of broad-based experience in a wide range of sectors including fintech, broadcast media, higher education, hospitality, retail, and public utility. Most recently, Corey has been a consulting CFO to growing businesses and technology startups helping their founders and leadership teams to overcome financial and administration constraints, create operational effectiveness, establish cross-functional partnerships, and ensure compliance in those respective sectors. Corey also has served on several community boards serving local and national youths, including the Kindness Foundation of Canada and Kerrisdale Little League. He continues his multi decades of service to the Vancouver community in public safety as a Team Leader with the Vancouver Police Department’s Citizen’s Crime Watch.

Each day between May 19 – 21, YVR expects an average of approximately 60,189 people to travel through the airport, for a weekly total of 421,323. Friday, May 19 and Sunday, May 21 are expected to be the busiest travel days of the weekend.

The airport’s domestic arrivals and departure terminals are estimated to host the largest volumes of passengers.

During May Long, YVR will connect travellers to 97 destinations across Canada and the world. Notably, the top destinations for departing YVR passengers are:

• Domestic:
  • Calgary
  • Edmonton
  • Toronto
• U.S.:
  • Los Angeles
  • Las Vegas
  • Hawaii
• International:
  • Japan
  • London

The airport continues to encourage the use of travel technology in combination with a parking plan when it comes time to fly.

For departing travellers:

• US Customs Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app: US Customs and Border Protection released the MPC app that allows travellers to submit information digitally before moving through the border process. By using the app, travellers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion, and efficient processing.

• YVR EXPRESS: Passengers have the option to schedule a specific time for security screening up to 72 hours in advance of their flight by using YVR EXPRESS. After booking on yvr.ca/express, passengers can look for the YVR EXPRESS signs at their assigned Security Checkpoint. Show airport staff your reservation QR code, and you are ready to go through screening.

• jetSet valet parking: Having a parking plan is an important step to consider before driving to YVR. Passengers travelling to the airport by car are now able to reserve their spot for jetSet’s 24/7 valet parking facility at yvr.ca/parking. Customers can enjoy the complementary 24/7 round-trip shuttle service to the Main Terminal.

For arriving travellers:

• ArriveCAN app: By using the ArriveCAN app to submit customs and immigration declarations in advance of arrival, travellers will gain access to the Advance CBSA Declaration express lanes at the airport when they arrive in Canada and save time through the border clearance process.

The airport continues to recommend that passengers arrive early—up to two hours ahead of scheduled domestic flights and three hours ahead of U.S. and international flights.

For the latest travel information, visit yvr.ca or follow the airport on Twitter: @YVRAirport or @YVRAeroport.

Since 2015, YVR has been supporting Covenant House Vancouver’s mission of providing relentless support, absolute respect, and unconditional love; to help youth experiencing homelessness; and to protect and safeguard all youth in need.

For youth such as Megan*, who experienced a lack of support from her family, homelessness at a young age and loss of custody of her daughter, Covenant House can transform lives. After arriving at Covenant House, Megan was welcomed with open arms and wrap around support to help her get back on their feet. With support from basic necessities to connecting with a counsellor and a social worker, Megan built up confidence and life skills she learned during her time at Covenant House and within a year was able to find housing and regain custody of her daughter.

Through our partnership, YVR uplifts the efforts of Covenant House Vancouver to ensure more youth get the support they need. YVR provides significant community investment in addition to employee giving and employee volunteering opportunities.

“YVR is proud to expand our long-standing partnership with Covenant House and double the impact by matching all donations”, said Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, YVR. “We are deeply invested in our people and community. Through this partnership we are pleased to support Covenant House in the important and impactful work they are doing to provide hundreds of youth wrap-around support and welcoming them to a safe, respectable, hopeful and comforting environment.”

This year, we invite you to support Covenant House Vancouver’s Spring Match campaign by making a donation here. Any amount helps as all donations will automatically be matched by YVR up to $100,000 total.

To learn more on how YVR goes beyond people, places and goods, visit yvr.ca/community

*Megan’s name has been changed to protect the privacy of the individual.

Last week, YVR piloted the airport’s first student hackathon!

Hosted by YVR’s Innovation Hub and Maintenance Team, the inaugural event brought together top talent from BCIT, UBC, and SFU to collaborate, learn, and apply their ideas in an airport setting.

The hackathon challenged BC’s next generation of innovators to solve a maintenance-related issue and present their solutions to a panel of industry experts with cash prizes at stake for first, second, third, and fourth place – not to mention the first-place team received unique plaques made entirely of recycled chopsticks from Vancouver based company, ChopValue.

First place, and a grand prize of $5,000, went to a group of keen BCIT students who proposed the “Keep it Clean” initiative. Their solution aims to make our airport smarter by leveraging advanced technology for improved hygiene and cleanliness.

The centerpiece of the initiative is the “Crow’s Nest,” an interconnected camera system that uses AI and image recognition to identify exact areas needing specific attention throughout the terminal. This system optimizes facilities operations by identifying and tackling high-traffic zones for improved service and enables staff to identify areas that need attention through real-time AR goggles and mobile devices. The model powering Crow’s Nest could be trained to detect spills, lost luggage, emergencies, damages, and other potential issues, thereby improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of our airport’s operations.

Second and third place also went to teams from BCIT, and fourth place was awarded to a team from UBC.

YVR’s Innovation Hub and Maintenance Team will work with the winning students to look at a potential integration of their solution into our operation as part of our commitment to support students in solving real-world challenges.

The hackathon was proudly sponsored by Innovate BC, Schneider Electric, and Ainsworth, who are aligned with YVR in our excitement and commitment in supporting the next generation of innovators and tech leaders in British Columbia.

The event was such a success, that we’re aiming to host another student hackathon in the fall. If you’re a student from UBC, SFU or BCIT – stay tuned!

About YVR’s Innovation Hub:

The Innovation Hub @YVR is a platform that develops, tests and trials new processes and sustainable technologies in collaboration with the community, such as the deployment and continued development of YVR’s Digital Twin Platform and the recent partnership with the Province as part of the Integrated Marketplace Initiative to support made-in-BC tech companies. YVR’s Innovation Hub also recently signed an MOU with BCIT to collaborate on innovate applied research products to support the development, advancement, and implementation of innovation initiatives.

The meeting opened with a traditional welcome from Councillor Brett Sparrow of the Musqueam Indian Band followed by presentations from Vancouver Airport Authority’s Chair, Board of Directors, Annalisa King and President & CEO Tamara Vrooman.

Both of their speeches highlighted events and milestones for YVR in 2022 – which include more than doubling passenger numbers in this year of travel recovery, our continued focus on cargo, global supply chain and innovation, our efforts and commitment to climate action, advancing together with Musqueam toward the path of reconciliation, welcoming over 10 new food and beverage partners, investing in our community and people and becoming a certified Living Wage Employer – while acknowledging challenges and committing to the implementation of the action plan following the findings from the After-Action Review and Public Engagement.

Here is a look back at some of highlights at YVR in 2022:

The APM serves as an opportunity for the community to come together and connect . As always, we encouraged people to ask questions – both in person and online – and appreciated the interest and enthusiasm that community members have for our airport and its future.

You can watch a recording of the APM at www.YVR.ca/APM.

As Cathay Pacific marks 40 years in the Americas, YVR is remembering the airlines’ very first flight that launched it all. It was back on May 1,1983 when Cathay Pacific first took off from Hong Kong and touched down at Vancouver International Airport. Cathay Pacific started its service with two non-stop flights a week with a Boeing 747-200. Today, Cathay Pacific operates 8x weekly non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Vancouver on a Boeing 777-300.

Since that first Boeing 747-200 landed 40 years ago, over 13 million passengers have flown on Cathay Pacific flights to and from YVR.

Cathay Pacific opened its first ticket office on March 16, 1983 in the heart of Vancouver’s “airline row,” employing 26, today, the airline employs close to 300 employees throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

We would like to congratulate Cathay Pacific on reaching 40 years of service, a significant milestone. Vancouver has strong links to Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region and we’re proud to serve our community with regular flights to this important part of the world.

That’s why YVR has signed onto the federal government’s Net Zero Challenge, as well as the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition, and is striving to become the greenest airport in North America.

Here are some ways we are accelerating our ambition to become the world’s greenest airport and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

1. Consistently reduce airport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: YVR became carbon neutral in 2020 and in 2022, we maintained our carbon neutral status by continuing to reduce our emissions, building strong partnerships, and taking measurable steps to reduce our GHG emissions by at least 10% every year through increased energy efficiency in our buildings and the electrification of our vehicle fleet.
2. Upgrade to energy-efficient lighting in the terminal: YVR has recently replaced the lighting throughout the Main Terminal, an upgrade that will save enough energy to power 255 B.C. homes.
3. Electrify our hot water system: YVR is in the process of switching our hot water systems from natural gas to fully electric, starting with the domestic terminal. This project will reduce our carbon footprint by approximately 125 tons every year.
4. Installing up to 74 Electric Vehicle charging stations: YVR is installing up to 74 EV charging stations across Sea Island over the next few years to support both the public and our commercial partners.
5. Supporting local businesses to enhance their sustainability: We work closely with businesses in our terminal and across Sea Island to tackle today’s environmental challenges. Through YVR’s Project Green initiative we engage with these partners through a variety of programs, including our YVR Green Pledge, as well as our annual Green Excellence Awards, EnergyWise @ YVR program and Waste Wars competition.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made and remain committed to the important work ahead.

To learn more about YVR’s climate change initiatives visit our Environment page.

With this new business venture, WestJet will contribute to the important operation of goods movement at YVR, which is essential to ensuring B.C. businesses and products have access to global markets and that global products are readily made available across our region.

In 2022, YVR handled more than 300,000 tons of cargo. This represents a nine per cent increase over 2021 and makes YVR Canada’s second busiest cargo airport.

We are proud of our cargo operation and role in Canada’s supply chain and continue to explore new and innovative ways to improve our operation and increase efficiency and sustainability. This includes investing in our existing infrastructure to ensure peak performance as well as using digital tools, such as our Air Cargo Community System developed in partnership with Kale Info Solutions and leveraging our Digital Twin to monitor and map goods movement and identify efficiencies.

Cargo and our focus on growth and optimization is in direct service of our community and the economy that supports it. The strength of our cargo operations, enhanced with WestJet’s new freighter service, creates opportunity for B.C. exports, such as seafood and produce, to arrive fresh at destinations around the world while also ensuring global products make their way to the hands of local consumers.

Not only will YVR’s enhanced systems and increased connectivity improve our operational efficiency but will also allow us to continue to meet our shared goals for the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of goods that our economy relies on.

We look forward to continuing to connect B.C. products to the world in partnership with our many cargo and logistics providers, including WestJet.

Learn more about WestJet’s new freighter service at YVR here.

To learn more about cargo operations at YVR, please visit: https://www.yvr.ca/en/business/cargo

The NEXUS program is a service that is jointly-run by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), and is a service that low-risk, pre-approved travellers can use to streamline their journey to the U.S.

As of April 3 2023, NEXUS applicants will be able to book their interviews at YVR through a two-step process: a Canadian interview administered by CBSA, as well as a U.S. interview administered by U.S. CBP.

Conditionally approved NEXUS applicants and renewing members who require an interview will be able to book the Canadian portion of their interview at YVR through the Trusted Traveller Programs scheduler as interview times become available.

The U.S. interviews are completed by U.S. CBP at Canadian airport preclearance locations for ticketed passengers departing Canada for the U.S. that same day. While no appointment is needed for the U.S. interview, it is recommended that applicants give themselves enough time before their flight and ensure the preclearance site is open by consulting CBP’s hours of service.

By hosting the NEXUS enrolment centre, we are pleased to help facilitate trusted travellers obtain their NEXUS cards, which in turn speeds up border crossings and supports the billions of dollars in economic activity generated in both countries.

For more information on the NEXUS enrolment centres, please visit the CBSA website.

The award recognizes our success in understanding market priorities and airline needs, which resulted in YVR welcoming a number of new airlines and routes in 2022 while also seeing the return of many popular destinations. All of which helped us continue to connect B.C. proudly to the world.

This includes celebrating new service with Fiji Airways, JetBlue, Lynx, Jetlines and Sun Country and partnering with Iskwew Air, the first Indigenous- and woman-owned airline. It also includes seeing Air Canada restore many of its services and adding new destinations like Bangkok, Miami, Austin and Halifax, as well as working with WestJet as it refocused its strategy to West and expanded connections to the U.S.

In total 52 airlines connect YVR to 111 destinations worldwide in 2022.

Our success is not ours alone. We continue to leverage our Team YVR approach, working closely with our airline and tourism partners to promote YVR and our region, strengthening our connectivity in service of the community and economy that support it.

Thank you to our valued partners and entire airport community for your continued support and contributions. We’re looking forward to building on our growth and success in 2023.

Routes is a celebration of global air connectivity, and these awards are recognized as some of the most valuable in the route development community.

Skytrax has named YVR The Cleanest Airport in North America. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of airport staff and partners who maintain a safe and clean environment throughout the airport for our passengers and guests.

We have always placed a great emphasis on airport hygiene above and beyond standard cleaning processes, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We take pride in being innovators in this space, which can be illustrated through our partnership with Teck to incorporate antimicrobial copper in our airport over the past year.

In addition, YVR landed as one of the top three Best North American airports for the second consecutive year and as one of the top 20 Best Airports in the World. YVR was also recognized in top rankings for Best Airport Staff in North America and World’s Best Art in the Airport awards.

We’d also like to extend our congratulations to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport for once again winning the Best Airport Hotel in North America award and placing third for the Best Airport Hotel in the World. YVR passengers are fortunate to have access to luxury hotel that is setting a high bar for others across the world just steps away from our terminal.

Skytrax, the company behind the awards, is a leading provider of independent airport ratings and reviews, assessing the facilities of over 500 airports around the world each year through their annual Airport customer satisfaction survey.

We are grateful for this year’s recognition from Skytrax and are committed to excellence across all areas of our operations.

To see all of the winners from this year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards, visit: https://www.worldairportawards.com/a-z-airport-awards-winners-2023/

Located near the airport at 5911 North Service Road, this 24/7 facility will increase YVR’s parking capacity by over a thousand spaces since the introduction of the jetSet Self-Park product in May 2022, accommodating up to 2,850 vehicles in total.

Having a parking plan is an important step to consider before driving to YVR, especially ahead of the busy spring travel season. Customers can book this streamlined parking service up to four hours in advance of drop-off. jetSet YVR Parking will not accept drive-ups and all vehicles must have a reservation to enter.

Customers can enjoy the complementary 24/7 round-trip shuttle service to the Main Terminal. The shuttle arrives every twenty minutes, taking customers directly to and from the International / Domestic Departures (Level 3) Courtesy Shuttle Stops in approximately five minutes.

Upon arrival at the jetSet facility, customers leave their vehicle at one of the drop-off lanes before heading inside the jetSet building to complete their check-in. Once they drop-off their keys and pick-up their Key Collection Ticket, customers can board the courtesy shuttle and rest easy knowing their vehicle will be taken care of by jetSet’s fully-trained staff. Upon return, customers pick-up their keys using their Key Collection Ticket and their vehicle will be waiting for them at one of the designated stalls.

Online rates apply. Visit yvr.ca/parking to reserve your spot for jetSet’s valet service, or to explore other parking options available at YVR.

Mr. Porter will have many opportunities to explore Vancouver and YVR. Porter Airlines new non-stop route to YYZ will operate daily and increase to twice a day as of February 14, with service expected to continue to increase over time to provide passengers with even more flexibility and choice to Toronto.

Passengers can look forward to Porter Airlines’ signature in-flight experience onboard its Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Offering a refined passenger experience, these flights feature:

• No middle seats: E195-E2 aircraft has a two-by-two configuration, meaning that passengers don’t have to sacrifice comfort for value.
• Complimentary snacks and beverages: Enjoy Porter Airlines’ selection of snacks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages. Premium liquor is available for purchase. Drinks are served in proper glassware, a refined touch while keeping plastic waste out of landfills!
• Free, fast Wi-Fi: Stay connected in-flight! Enjoy Porter Airline’s complimentary Wi-Fi on personal devices - whether it’s checking emails, surfing the web, or streaming from entertainment! Free streaming in-flight entertainment is also available to passengers.
• Fresh meal options available: Porter Airlines offers fresh meals made with real, healthy ingredients available for purchase, in addition to their complimentary snacks and beverages.

In addition to these premium service offerings, the E195-E2 aircraft is one of the most environmentally friendly and quiet aircraft in operation today!

YVR is proud to welcome Porter Airlines to the YVR airport community as part of its service to Western Canada.

For more information, or to book your next Porter Airlines flight to Toronto, please visit Porter Airlines’ website.

Grab a nutritional snack before jumping on your next flight at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – no matter what time it is!

Whether travellers need breakfast, lunch or a late-night snack – YVR is proud to announce its partnership with Trendi Tech Inc, a local Burnaby-based company, to install five of its 24/7 robotic Smoothie Machines across YVR’s terminal. These machines use rescued fruit to deliver a refreshing snack into the hands of YVR travellers, making healthy options more accessible.

At the touch of a button, Trendi smoothies are the perfect option for travellers in a pinch – dispensing a freshly-blended smoothie in under a minute. Machines are available 24/7 and can be found at Gates B13, B27 and B28 in domestic departures, gate D62 in international departures and E74 in US departures. Travellers will have the choice between four yummy, 100% plant-based smoothies on-the-go:

• Strawburst (strawberry, banana, orange, beet and apple)
• Berry Breeze (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and apple)
• Mango Tango (mango, banana, passion fruit, ginger and lemon)
• Groovy Guava (guava, papaya, soursop, apple, lime and turmeric)

Trendi’s Smoothies are made with no added sugar, no preservatives and are gluten-free. A first for North American airports, these new machines support YVR’s commitment to providing healthy food options for travellers, and its journey to transform food and beverage offerings throughout the airport.

Not only will these machines satisfy cravings – they also play an important role in YVR’s sustainability efforts and goal to being the one of the world’s greenest airports. Trendi reduces food waste by upcycling surplus fruit or fruit with visual imperfections that otherwise would not make it to retail. These fruits, picked directly from a farm, are sent to Trendi to blend into their smoothies.

The result? A delicious and refreshing treat made from nutritional ingredients that would have otherwise slipped through the cracks of food production!

YVR is boldly pursuing a greener and more resilient future alongside our food and beverage partners. This newest food service provider's approach to reducing food waste complements YVR’s existing waste diversion program, which encourages more sustainable practices across the airport.

Try this on-the-go sustainability solution next time you’re travelling through YVR, you won’t regret it!

More information on YVR’s dining options can be found at yvr.ca/dine.

YVR is proud to add another local brand to our culinary community, showcasing the best cuisine our region has to offer. This local icon enthusiastically provides travellers with an elevated on-the-go culinary experience, proudly sourcing all ingredients from local farmers, growers and suppliers.

Nourish features baked in-house pastries, speciality coffee drinks, freshly pressed juices and an array of pre-packaged snacks. If travellers are craving something more filling, yummy baguette sandwiches and bowls are also available. There’s something for everyone to savour at Nourish – vegetarian, vegan and low-calorie options are available!

Featuring a walk-in layout, travellers can fully immerse themselves in the space before grabbing that delicious quick fix to satisfy their craving. Nourish provides travellers with an even more convenient way to experience local cuisine before departing Vancouver, playing an important role in our commitment to providing fresh food and beverage offerings across all terminals.

For over a decade, The Dirty Apron has been a popular local cooking school, caterer and deli at its flagship location in Vancouver’s Chinatown. They are also recognized for their best-selling cookbook and educational YouTube cooking channel, nurturing the culinary imagination of curious home cooks and seasoned professionals alike.

Don’t forget to pay The Dirty Apron a visit before heading on your next domestic flight!

Everyone deserves to feel like they belong and are welcome at YVR. That’s why the airport has prioritized improving accessibility across the entire passenger journey.

The airport experience can be a challenging one for those living with dementia, their families, and their care partners. Accessibility is one of YVR’s top priorities, and we are committed to providing an inclusive experience which meets the needs of the community.

Over Summer 2022, YVR participated in a journey mapping exercise in partnership with Leger Research. Through this exercise, YVR had the opportunity to gain meaningful insights from passengers’ first-hand experiences to better understand strengths and areas for improvement related to accessibility across the airport.

YVR has previously partnered with the Alzheimer’s Society of BC to provide Dementia-Friendly training and workshops that help Green Coat volunteers recognize and support passengers living with dementia, including communication strategies. YVR looks forward to continuing this partnership with more ongoing training.

In addition, YVR participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. The sunflower symbol helps signal to YVR staff, including airlines, security, and the front-line team, that the traveller has a non-visible disability (such as dementia) and may need extra care and support. Sunflower lanyards or stickers are available for pick-up at airport information counters.

The airport has also partnered with the University of Ottawa’s working group on Air Travel Experiences of Passengers Living with Cognitive Impairment or Dementia to find opportunities to share knowledge, policy, care, and services.

These are just a few examples of the variety of programs the airport has implemented to support those living with disabilities. YVR is thankful to be recognized as a Dementia-Friendly Large Organization, however, none of this important work would be possible without the enthusiasm demonstrated by the YVR community.

Creating accessible and inclusive spaces improves the overall experience for all airport customers. YVR is looking forward to continued engagement with its working groups and airport community to foster a welcoming experience for all in 2023 and beyond.

To learn more about accessibility at YVR, please visit: https://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/navigate-yvr/accessibility-at-yvr

Waste Wars

Waste Wars is a friendly competition designed to engage terminal food & beverage tenants in proper waste management and recycling at YVR. The competition’s main objective is to increase outreach and education on how to sort properly and divert waste from going to landfill, encouraging tenants to help us reach our target of 60 per cent waste diversion by 2024.

YVR’s waste warriors battled the bins, and after seven weeks of intense binning, digging, and sorting, YVR’s best bins were declared!

Full-Service Restaurants:

• 1^st Place: Vino Volo (U.S. Departures)
• 2^nd Place: Vino Volo (Domestic Departures)
• 3^rd Place: Urban Crave

Quick Service Restaurants:

• 1^st Place: Pacific Coast News
• 2^nd Place: Banh Shop
• 3^rd Place: Subway (International Departures)

To mark Waste Wars’ return after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, two new categories were created to acknowledge new tenants to the YVR food scene and those who demonstrated considerable improvements compared to previous rounds of competition.

• The Best New Tenant: Hiker’s Outpost
• The Most Improved Tenant: Pajo’s

These winners displayed exceptional sorting skills and true dedication to YVR’s waste management practices. We were truly impressed by their consistent efforts, enthusiasm, passion, and remarkable progress over the course of the competition. As a result of their hard work, less waste is going to the landfill and more is being recycled.

YVR Green Excellence Award

Since 2011 the Vancouver Airport Authority has been recognizing exceptional Sea Island businesses for their commitment, enthusiasm, and innovation in minimizing the environmental impact of their operations with our annual YVR Green Excellence Award. This award has been given to Sea Island businesses for everything from reducing carbon emissions and waste to improving water efficiency and ecosystem health on Sea Island.

This year, we are pleased to announce that the 2022 YVR Green Excellence Award winner is Dufry. Two honorable mentions were also awarded to SkyTeam Lounge and Air Canada.

• Dufry has taken steps to reduce energy consumption, such as replacing lighting with energy-efficient models and powering down electrical systems when stores and warehouses are not in operation. Dufry has also eliminated plastic bags since January 2022, reduced single-use plastic usage by 91% by using reusable netting, and expanded their recycling program..
• SkyTeam Lounge has, 92% of their employees take public transit with carpool arrangements available.
• In 2022, Air Canada has continued to implement several energy and waste reduction initiatives to improve their environmental footprint. From EV Charging stations and electric buses to HVAC and roof upgrades, as well as radiant heating and smart meter installations, Air Canada is taking great steps to reduce their emissions.

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thank you to all businesses who submitted a nomination for the 2022 YVR Green Excellence Awards. We look forward to continuing to work together with the Sea Island business community to reduce our collective impact on the environment.

1. Know before you go: Check the current status of your flight through your airline’s website or yvr.ca before coming to the airport. Consider online check-in: Most airlines offer online check-in, meaning you can have your boarding pass emailed to your mobile device and/or printed before coming to the airport.
2. Book your spot for security screening in advance: Consider using YVR EXPRESS to reserve your spot in security screening. YVR EXPRESS is available for those flying within Canada or to the U.S. and allows you to pre-book your spot up to 72 hours before your flight.
3. Pack smart: Be sure to follow all Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) baggage requirements. Remember: liquids, gels and aerosols need to be in containers that are less than 100 milliliters and be packaged into one transparent, closed, and resealable plastic bag that is under one litre. Avoid wrapping holiday gifts - contents may need to be inspected during the screening progress for both carry-on and checked baggage!
4. Arrive early to enjoy your YVR experience: We strongly encourage travellers to arrive at least 2 hours in advance of domestic flights, and 3 hours in advance of U.S. and international flights. Be sure to build in extra time on your way to the airport in case you run into inclement weather, traffic, or any other issues which could delay you.
5. Plan your route to the airport: Consider taking the Canada Line to YVR - it can get you from downtown to the terminal door in 30 minutes or less! Driving to YVR? Be sure to pre-book your parking.
6. Use your smartphone to speed up your time in line: Travellers heading to the U.S. can submit passport and customs declaration information through the secure Mobile Passport Control app in advance of their trip. Those returning from the U.S. or an international destination can use ArriveCAN to submit customs information and follow signs for Advance CBSA Declaration (ACD) Express Lanes to move through the customs process more quickly.
7. Try our tasty food options: There’s something for everyone to savour when you journey through YVR! A full list of dining options, including new local brands such as Dirty Apron, can be found on yvr.ca. You can also order your meals in advance with YVR Order Now.
8. Find those last-minute holiday gifts: Forgot someone on your holiday giving list? YVR’s retail shops offer an extensive array of gift options! A complete list of shops and services can be found on yvr.ca. Did you know that you can also reserve products from the duty-free shop from home and collect them before boarding your flight? Secure that last-minute gift by visiting vancouver.shopdutyfree.com
9. Picking up someone from the airport? Be sure to use our Cellphone Waiting Area to avoid circling the terminals while you wait for your party to arrive. The Cellphone Waiting Area is a complimentary 30-minute parking lot, with free WiFi!
10. Have questions? Keep an eye out for our YVR Guest Experience team members or Green Coat volunteers. They are stationed at Information Counters and throughout the terminal and are ready to answer any questions you may have.

Don’t forget! We are also offering several festive activities throughout the terminal. Travellers can expect live entertainment, visits from Santa and his team of elves as well as a few other surprise holiday guests, pop-up activations featuring festive food and wine offerings, and a host of other seasonal activities.

For the latest travel information, visit yvr.ca or follow us on social media: @YVRairport or @YVRaeroport on Twitter.

This $11.5 million program investment from the Government of BC will support our efforts to become net zero by 2030 and the world’s greenest airport, a commitment in which we’ve invested $135 million over the next ten years to support these efforts.

This exciting new initiative will be lead through our Innovation Hub, working closely with our airside and ground handling community. It will identify specific business needs and test made-in-B.C. clean technology solutions. This includes alternative fuel options and electrification of all applicable aspects of our operations.

Already, over 50% of licensed ground-handling vehicles at YVR are electric, and we have installed 94 airside charging stations for aircraft support vehicles. This is in addition to ground power units at many of our aircraft loading bridges which enable crews to shut down aircraft engines and plug into B.C.’s clean electricity. We are also proud to be the first airport in Canada to achieve the highest level of Airport Carbon Accreditation (4+ Transition). Across our entire organization, YVR is working to embed sustainability and climate action on our path towards net zero by 2030.

Beyond our direct operations, we see this connection between sustainability and innovation with YVR’s Digital Twin and many other initiatives and partnerships underway.

Our Digital Twin platform is a virtual, real-time representation of the terminal and airfield located on Sea Island, and has the potential to allow us to monitor aircraft movement and activity on our airfield to reduce GHG emissions.

In September, we also signed a commitment with two Cascadia Corridor airports (Seattle Tacoma, and Portland) to collaborate on decarbonizing aviation, including ground support equipment and the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

However, there are always opportunities to do more. YVR exists to serve our community and local economy. We believe that we can make more of an impact by working together, and through the IMI, we look forward to being a key partner in bringing together a strong alliance of providers and buyers at the airport to advance and streamline sustainable innovation across the province.

Stay tuned for more information as we continue to collaborate with the Government of BC to set-up the IMI and continue to identify new opportunities for climate action on our path towards becoming the greenest airport in the world.

Throughout the winter, our teams monitor the weather closely and have direct 24/7 access to meteorologists who focus specifically on weather and snow forecasting for the airport. During a major snowstorm, YVR will use up to 80 pieces of snow removal equipment to keep runways, taxiways and aprons safe for aircraft and passengers. YVR’s snow response fleet can clear the equivalent of Granville Street, full width and full length, from the Fraser River to Burrard Inlet, in less than 15 minutes.

We’ve compiled our top tips to help passengers get on their way through YVR as quickly and as safely as possible this winter.

• Check the status of your flight on your airline’s website or the flight information on yvr.ca before coming to YVR. Please note that winter weather in B.C. or other parts of the country can impact flights.

• Online check-in is available for most airlines.

• Consider taking the Canada Line to YVR, delivering you to the terminal door in 30 minutes or less.

• Driving to YVR? Have a parking plan by pre-booking parking as close as four hours in advance at yvr.ca/parking.

• Allow ample time to check in, clear security and board your flight.

And as always, if you’re in the terminal and need any additional assistance, our Green Coat volunteers and Guest Experience team on the floor is happy to assist you. You can also call us directly at 604-207-7022 or send us a message on Twitter @yvrairport.

Thank you for your patience as we work to get you on your way as safely and quickly as possible.

Whether you’re looking to treat yourself to a lounge experience or opt for an on-the-go meal before your flight, travellers through YVR’s United States departures have a few new offerings to choose from.

YVR’s Plaza Premium Lounge in U.S. departures has reopened after extensive renovations done during the pandemic. The lounge now features enhanced seating options, shower facilities and a nursing room all geared towards providing an environment for passengers to rejuvenate and refresh before their flight. The newly renovated lounge showcases a refined and contemporary design which provides a tranquil atmosphere to enjoy a selection of beverages and tasty culinary options.

To celebrate the reopening of the Plaza Premium Lounge, we’re giving away 5 pairs of lounge passes to 5 lucky travellers to enjoy the lounge experience! Learn more about the contest which ends November 18, 2022 on our social channels.

Contributing to the passenger experience is the opening of the adjacent Root98 which includes a full-service bar and a selection of globally inspired signature menu items made with fresh, local ingredients. Travellers with dietary requirements can also enjoy delicious vegetarian and gluten free options. To top it off, Root98 also offers a variety of bubble teas from BlackBall Taiwanese Desserts to satisfy the craving before a long flight.

YVR is proud to work with Plaza Premium Group to provide an exceptional culinary and lounge experience for travellers to relax and unwind with whatever they might need ahead of their flight.

We are excited to announce that the nomination period for the 2022 YVR Green Excellence Awards is now open! Since 2011, the YVR Green Excellence Award has commended and awarded Sea Island organizations for the steps they have taken to reduce the environmental impact of operations and raise awareness of environmental issues through education and outreach.

The YVR Green Excellence Award recognizes Sea Island organizations for their efforts in one or many of the following areas:

1. Saving energy and/or fuel,

1. Reducing waste,
2. Conserving potable water,
3. Improving ecosystem health on Sea Island, and
4. Supporting employees and engaging customers/partners on environmental issues.

If this describes your organization, or if you know of another organization that deserves recognition for their green efforts, please complete the online nomination form by Monday, November 14, 2022 at 5:00 PM.

PAST RECIPIENTS

In 2021, three businesses were awarded the YVR Green Excellence Award: Air Canada, Hertz Canada, and Purolator. These businesses were recognized for their unique efforts in reducing the environmental impact of operations, through ways such as making upgrades to energy systems to improve energy efficiency of their facilities to save energy, implementing electric vehicles for business operations, and improving their commercial and office recycling programs.

These businesses also helped to raise awareness of environmental issues through education and outreach by taking actions such as running environmental awareness events and programs for employees and customers, promoting green commuting options, and forming an employee “green team” to further support initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of operations. If you would like to learn more about the 2021 winners, check out the YVR Blog.

2022 Project Green YVR Annual Summit

Join us for this 3 hour in-person event where you will join other Sea Island businesses and the Vancouver Airport Authority’s Climate & Environment Team to learn about environmental initiatives underway and provide input. Let’s reconnect, in person, and shape a greener and more resilient future for all!

Event Details

Date: Monday, November 21, 2022

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

Location: Sea to Sky Room

Registration: To learn more about this event and register, please visit the Eventbrite website here by Monday, November 14, 2022 at 5:00pm.

Questions? Contact the YVR Climate & Environment Department at environment@yvr.ca or at 604-276-6656.

The year-round route takes off December 16, making Texas and the Southern U.S. more accessible and providing travellers with greater choice for onward connections to the Caribbean and Latin America.

This new service will also add to B.C.’s economy and our role as a diverse global hub as it makes YVR an important connection for Air Canada’s U.S. travellers onto its Asia-Pacific network.

Passengers on flights to and from Houston will fly on an Airbus A220 aircraft with seat capacity for 137 across both Business and Economy cabins. The new flight, AC1300, departs Vancouver at 8:45 a.m., arriving in Houston at 3:08 p.m. The return flight, AC1301, departs Houston at 4:30 p.m., arriving into Vancouver at 7:15 p.m.

Air Canada’s new service to Houston is the fifth route Air Canada has added from YVR this year. The airline will start nonstop service to Miami and Bangkok in December and inaugurated service to Austin and Halifax earlier this year. Air Canada’s Bangkok route makes YVR the only airport in North America with direct service to Thailand. This is in addition to another eight routes the airline resumed service to over the summer.

On this day in particular, we take pause to remember, and mourn, the children who never came home from residential school – and also to remember the children who came home suffering from the brutality of those institutions.

Children as young as three were taken from their families and placed in residential schools between the 1870s and the 1900s, with the last school closing in 1996. The schools were an attempt by the federal government to remove Indigenous children from their families to suppress Indigenous languages, culture and spirituality. While attending residential schools, Indigenous children lived a horrific life, experiencing and witnessing atrocities no child…no person…should ever have to endure.

Many children never saw their families again. It wasn't until May 2021, when the first 215 children at the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc residential school were found, that the broader public began their own journey of learning about this dark time in Canada’s history. Since that first announcement, reports of initial investigations at residential schools across North America have put the number of children buried on school grounds at well over 10,000.

Today, and every day, I ask you to remember our children. Children who went into the ground without records, without caskets, without words, without family, without ceremony, without love. And to remember that they were loved -- and they are wanted back home still. I ask you to also think about the families, traumatized by years of disconnection and disempowerment. The repercussions of residential school trauma is seen and felt throughout our communities to this day, and to a next generation striving for change.

Walking the path of Reconciliation together….

As we continue to learn from our friends at Musqueam, we are working to bring awareness of these truths. As our country continues to mourn the discoveries of unmarked graves, our flags will be at half-mast, the control tower at YVR will be lit orange, and we will observe a moment of silence terminal wide on September 30.

We are committed to continuing to share resources and identify ways to strengthen our work on the path toward reconciliation and our partnership with Musqueam.

You may see activity on Sea Island along Miller Road from approximately 7:00am to 4:00pm PT. Signs will be posted around the site location alerting the community to the exercise.

Hosting full-scale exercises is a key part of YVR’s Emergency Management Plan. By simulating emergency situations, we can better prepare for the unlikely event of a real-life emergency at YVR.

If you see anything around the large-scale emergency simulation there will be the preface of Exercise Exercise, Exercise.

Airport operations will not be affected.

This journey to a more sustainable industry ecosystem will begin with joint efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance both organizations’ climate and sustainability goals, such as YVR’s Net Zero by 2030 objective.

This agreement also signals a stronger partnership, one that acknowledges the power of unique perspectives, accountability, and a shared vision to support the development of Indigenous businesses and a sustainable Indigenous tourism economy, thus supporting the economic recovery of our province.

Iskwew Air received the blessing from Musqueam to operate on their traditional unceded territory on September 21, 2018 and began chartered operations in October 2019. In 2021, Iskwew Air marked its inaugural scheduled flight from YVR. Iskwew Air operates from the airport’s South Terminal offering daily scheduled service between Vancouver and Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. To book please visit iskwew.ca.

Never before in aviation history have we seen this level of increase in such a short period of time, nor the impacts that the increase spurred.

We know the travel experience this summer was challenging for everyone. We recognize the inconvenience of delays and cancellations. We are very aware that travelling through any airport in Canada – and worldwide – was difficult.

Our team at Vancouver Airport Authority remained steadfast in their commitment to support travellers in their journey through the airport.

At YVR, our Vancouver Airport Authority team was on the front lines for our passengers and visitors—answering questions, managing queues, supporting our carriers and service providers with baggage throughput and delivery, and passing out water and granola bars to help improve the experience as much as possible and even in small ways.

Leveraging our long history of innovation, our teams also accelerated digital applications to improve the passenger experience. This included developing and introducing a digital twin of YVR, which enables us to monitor operations and deploy resources as needed quickly and efficiently. We also developed new technology with Canada Border Services (CBSA) to process passengers faster through the border clearance process.

For that, we want to thank our team for everything they did all summer to get our passengers on their way safely and as quickly as possible.

This includes not just our Guest Experience staff, but people from across our organization who went above and beyond to support colleagues in our bag halls and arrivals areas, at the check-in counters and in the security screening lines. People from engineering, operations, maintenance, human resources, finance, and more came together to do everything we could to create a positive experience for travellers and visitors.

It’s now our turn to show up and show gratitude to them in a way that makes tangible sense.

“I am thrilled to see people travelling again and I want to thank passengers for their patience as we manage record increases daily. This is all made possible by our dedicated team at Vancouver Airport Authority. And I particularly want to thank them for showing a level of commitment and passion that I have never seen before,” said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO at Vancouver Airport Authority.

On September 15, we announced a recognition bonus to be paid to all employees of Vancouver Airport Authority, including our temporary, casual and student hires, as an expression of appreciation for the work they do. The bonus is based on salary, with those in lower income brackets earning a larger bonus than those at a higher bracket. Executives are exempt.

Recognizing the staffing challenges across the aviation ecosystem, YVR became a certified Living Wage Employer, the first airport in Canada to achieve this designation. As a Living Wage Employer, the Airport Authority pays all 600 of its direct employees at or higher than the designated living wage for Metro Vancouver, which is $20.52 per hour including benefits. Furthermore, we are working with the direct service providers at the airport, such as janitorial, building maintenance, landscaping, and traffic management contractors, to ensure they too will be paid a living wage by their employer in the future. We estimate this represents a further 1,600 employees across YVR.

Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a new app from US CBP that allows travellers to submit information digitally prior to moving through the border process, helping speed up the departures experience from YVR for those travelling to the U.S.

The MPC app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App store and Google Play .

You do not need pre-approval to use the MPC app. After downloading the app, you’ll create a profile with your name, gender, date of birth, country of citizenship, and passport information.

When going through US Customs before a flight at YVR, travellers will select Vancouver International Airport, take a photo of themselves, and answer CBP inspection-related questions on the app.

Once you submit your information through the app, you’ll receive an electronic receipt with an encrypted QR code, which you will show to a CBP officer to finalize their inspection for entry into the US.

Travellers using the MPC app will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an APC kiosk. They will still be processed by a CBP officer but will be directed to a specific processing lane for a streamlined entry process.

A single household can submit the same MPC form on the app, which further streamlines the process for families travelling together.

As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and efficient processing. If you have questions, please visit USCBP’s Mobile Passport Control FAQ page.

At YVR, we have a long history of innovation. We have made a global impact through the release of various self-service border control technologies, helping more than 250 million passengers safely and efficiently clear the border. With the advancements in the PIK technology, we are continuing to take innovation in aviation to the next level!

The journey continues…

After successfully implementing this innovative technology at YVR, we are now going beyond to other airports across Canada including our customers at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, and soon Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson Airport and Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport.

We’re proud to be part of another great joint effort with our partners and colleagues to support passengers as they travel through airports across the country safely and efficiently, and we are doing this one innovation at a time.

Arriving in Canada? ArriveCAN continues to be mandatory for all travellers to Canada. More information about ArriveCAN can be found here.

YVR is also sharing weekly tips and forecasts to help you plan your next trip Read more.

No matter what time you find yourself travelling through YVR, fresh and healthy food is available at your fingertips – thanks to our new UpMeals SmartVending machines.

Now you can find up to 30 options of ready-to-eat salads, bowls, juices, healthy snacks, wraps and more at any time of day. The addition of these machines is part of YVR’s journey to transform its food and beverage program, offering more fresh, local and authentic options to better reflect the incredible culinary scene of our community.

The machines also feature a meal exclusive to the airport! Try the YVR Signature Bowl, which includes B.C. smoked salmon, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, nori, and pickled ginger on a bed of steamed sushi rice with UpMeals’ miso tamari dressing. We promise you’re in for a true West Coast experience in every bite!

Find a machine at these post-security locations throughout YVR:
• Three in domestic departures
• One in U.S. departures
• One in international departures

The meals in each machine are replenished daily so travellers can experience new menu items weekly based on popularity and ingredient seasonality. Each meal is dispensed in a sustainable, self-contained unit, and can be composted or recycled after use. The meals are made in a HACCP compliant food production facility, the global standard for food production safety and sanitation.

All major cashless payment options are accepted including credit and debit cards, as well as ewallets such as Google Pay and Apple Pay.

Next time you’re travelling through YVR, look for one of these UpMeals machines and grab a quick, fresh and healthy meal while you’re on the go.

This week, YVR welcomed a special flight! Fiji Airways flew to Vancouver a few months earlier than scheduled. The airline flew over a few special guests to check out the brand new route ahead of launching its twice weekly direct service Nadi to YVR on November 25.

While here, we welcomed our Fijian visitors with a traditional Musqueam Welcome. We also got to experience some Fijian culture including a dance performance.

Fiji boasts white sand beaches and 333 islands! It’s no wonder it’s a favourite tropical weather destination.

In addition to direct service to YVR, Fiji Airways also operates regular scheduled service to San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Singapore, Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

If you happened to catch the A350-900 aircraft, enter to win a Fiji Airways model plane through our social media contest.

We can’t wait for Fiji Airway’s South Pacific flair to visit YVR more regularly.

This local artisanal delicatessen has been serving its signatures and satisfying cravings of diners and commuters looking for fresh, authentic and gourmet food for more than 10 years in the heart of Vancouver. With The Dirty Apron’s arrival at YVR, we are thrilled to provide our passengers with delicious and high-quality restaurant options that truly reflect the best our culinary community has to offer.

The Dirty Apron at YVR is located in the domestic terminal, post-security. The next time you’re travelling through YVR, grab some of their most popular dishes including the Prosciutto Fig and Brie Sandwich and Thai Salad. Don’t forget the Apple Cruffin – it’s the most airy and lovely treat that will leave you coming back for more.

If we’ve got you craving for The Dirty Apron, then you’re in luck! Find out how you can win the founder David Robertson’s original cookbook and cooking classes for two at The Dirty Apron Cooking School in Chinatown Vancouver on our social media channels – Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.