At YVR, we’re always looking for ways to make the journey through the airport smoother, faster, and more intuitive. That’s why we’re partnering with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to modernize our screening checkpoints with new CATSA Plus Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray equipment.  

This equipment upgrade, now complete at two of our Domestic security checkpoints, allows travellers to move through screening without removing liquids, aerosols, gels, or large electronics from their carry-on bags.  

The new CT technology enhances both safety and efficiency, helping more passengers move seamlessly through screening while continuing to enjoy YVR’s signature mix of local art and West Coast storytelling. 

As the first airport in Canada to adopt the new CATSA Plus equipment in September 2024, YVR is helping set a new standard for airport security. 

Continuing this momentum, YVR will extend this technology to every checkpoint across the terminal in 2026, including International and U.S. departure checkpoints. 

This upgrade reflects YVR’s ongoing commitment to innovation and growth, ensuring that every journey through our airport is not only secure but also welcoming, effortless, and uniquely reflective of our community. 

Aircraft operate on tight schedules within a complex global route network, where punctuality is of critical importance for the overall movement of people and goods. An aircraft turnaround is the coordinated sequence of ground activities at the gate that prepares an aircraft for its next departure, from cargo loading, baggage handling, cleaning, and catering to technical checks, and boarding.

"Investing in digital technologies is a key part of YVR's innovation strategy, enabling us to deliver reliable and resilient service to passengers and our airline customers," said Andy Margolis, Vice President, Operations and Chief Operations Officer at Vancouver International Airport. "Deep Turnaround and digitizing our gating process data will provide invaluable insights to help minimize delays for passengers and the movement of goods and ultimately support more predictable and efficient operational service."

“With Deep Turnaround, YVR joins a global community of airports transforming airside operations, collaboratively setting new standards for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability,” said Caroline Massart, Head of Aviation Solutions. “We’re proud to work side-by-side with our partners to solve real challenges and deliver results, quickly, for the airport, the airline and ground handlers”.

Using cameras at the gates, Deep Turnaround analyzes CCTV footage to automatically detect, log, and sequence turnaround events. This data will be fed into YVR’s Digital Twin, allowing for analysis and optimization of the end-to-end process.

“The Air Canada YVR Team is laser-focused on continually optimizing our ground operations to increase our process efficiencies which drives our operational performance. We are excited to turn on the Deep Turnaround software capabilities to give us better insights on turnaround activity. Data analytic tools such as this will enable us to better predict and calculate estimated departure times with improved precision and accuracy,” said Anna McMurdo, Manager – Global On-Time Performance Solutions at Air Canada.

 Deep Turnaround will be in place at select gates at the airport and will be expanded over multiple phases. As passenger and cargo volumes grow, YVR is committed to delivering measurable improvements in on-time performance while advancing its digital transformation to support sustainable growth and create a smarter and more efficient airport experience.

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While we’re no strangers to rain in the Lower Mainland, thunder and lightning storms are less common in the region. Uncommon, but certainly not unheard of, and this is where Thor Guard comes in.   

As storms develop, there can be significant changes to temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. There is also a buildup of charged particles which cause the electric field to increase. Thor Guard focuses on this last element, using sensors to measure the strength of these electric fields. By monitoring how much static energy is building and changing, the Thor Guard device predicts lightning strikes before they happen, allowing us to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of everyone at the airport.   

When lightning is detected in the vicinity of YVR, our Thor Guard technology sounds a loud horn that informs our ground handlers and airside crews that there is lightning in the area.  

What this means is everybody working outside, whether on foot, in vehicles or in an airplane should stop their movements and find shelter in a covered area. It might also mean that any aircraft on the ground (i.e. not actively on approach and landing) holds in position until the threat of lightning has passed. 

While this can have an impact on flight operations and schedules, it is a necessary measure to increase safety.    

At YVR, safety is our number one priority, and with Thor Guard we have one more layer of technology that supports our ability to protect our community against weather-related risks.  

If you’re travelling through YVR during one of the region’s rare and wonderful displays of thunder and lightning, know that thanks to our Thor Guard technology, YVR can better manage weather-related disruptions, ensuring that flights, ground services, and other critical operations can continue safely, and as smoothly as possible, even in adverse conditions.