01
December
2025
|
09:25
America/Los_Angeles

YVR invests in additional technologies to keep passengers moving during peak holiday travel season

  • CATSA Plus Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray equipment
  • Air Canada at YVR
    Aircraft taxiing in the winter
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Winter is on the horizon, which means a busy travel season at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The airport is expecting to welcome approximately 3 million travellers between December 1, 2025, and January 12, 2026, representing a two per cent increase compared to 2019, which represents YVR’s historical high.

This means on average, YVR will welcome almost 70,000 passengers daily over this period. The busiest travel days are projected for the back half of December, with more than 76,800 passengers expected on Thursday, December 18 followed closely by December 22 and December 29, as passenger traffic surges a few days before both Christmas and New Year’s.

Peak holiday passenger traffic will flow even more smoothly this year thanks to new YVR innovation investments for both passengers and their luggage at security screening and boarding gates:
 

  • Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray equipment at more Domestic checkpoints allows passengers travelling domestically to save time by leaving large electronics, such as laptops, and liquids in their bags for a faster security screening experience.
     

  • Passengers also have more opportunities to use biometric identity verification tools versus having to show boarding passes and physical identification through Air Canada’s Digital ID program and newly installed e-gates for those travelling to the U.S. via U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Traveller Verification Service (TVS) facial comparison technology.
     

Expectations for winter passengers at YVR by the numbers:

  • 69,842 average daily passengers

  • 76,887 passengers at YVR’s peak on December 18

  • 147,204 passengers travelling the weekend before Christmas (December 20-21)

  • 145,618 passengers travelling the weekend before New Years (December 27-28)

  • 902,826 Domestic travellers arriving at YVR

  • 458,885 International travellers arriving at YVR

  • 884,949 Domestic travellers departing from YVR

  • 449,799 International travellers departing from YVR


With millions expected to arrive and depart from YVR this winter, where are they planning to go? YVR data shows that many are bound for Canada this season, representing the top five destinations.

 

Top destinations for passengers from YVR this winter:

  1. Toronto

  2. Calgary

  3. Edmonton

  4. Kelowna

  5. Montreal

  6. Hong Kong

  7. San Francisco

  8. Victoria

  9. Los Angeles

  10. Seattle 

 

For passengers travelling this season, a step-by-step guide for a smooth trip can be found on 10 Tips from YVR for a Seamless Winter Travel Journey page.

YVR looks forward to welcoming passengers this winter!