Us Customs At Abbotsford Airport: What You Need To Know

Abbotsford International Airport is located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of downtown Vancouver. The airport offers daily domestic scheduled services and seasonal international scheduled services. Abbotsford Airport is equipped with a CAT 1 instrument landing system, on-site aircraft rescue and firefighting services, and a fully serviced air terminal building with customs and passenger screening. It is monitored by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which provides clearance services to all general aviation aircraft and scheduled international arrivals. While there is no specific mention of US customs, the presence of customs and passenger screening facilities, along with the airport's proximity to the US border, suggests that US customs procedures may be facilitated at the airport.

Abbotsford Airport's US Customs location

Abbotsford International Airport is located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, about 40 miles (65 km) southeast of downtown Vancouver and 2.2 nautical miles (4.1 km; 2.5 mi) southwest of Abbotsford's city centre. It is the second-largest airport in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia and is close to the US border.

The airport is equipped with a CAT 1 instrument landing system, on-site aircraft rescue and firefighting capabilities, and a fully serviced air terminal building with customs and passenger screening. Abbotsford International Airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is monitored by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for all scheduled international arrivals. The CBSA also provides clearance services to all general aviation aircraft carrying 15 or fewer passengers.

The airport features customs and immigration counters in the arrival section of the terminal building. Abbotsford International Airport is designated as a port of entry for international passengers. The CBSA is responsible for monitoring and providing clearance services at the airport.

The CBSA office at Abbotsford International Airport can be found at the following address:

Local Address: 30440 Liberator Avenue, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H5

Mailing Address: 2 Sumas Way, Abbotsford, BC V2S 8B7

Customs procedures for US-bound passengers

The Abbotsford International Airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, is located about 40 miles (65km) southeast of downtown Vancouver and 2.2 nautical miles (4.1km) from the city centre. The airport offers daily domestic scheduled services and seasonal international scheduled services.

Customs and Immigration

The airport is equipped with customs and passenger screening. It is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for all scheduled international arrivals. The CBSA also provides clearance services to all general aviation aircraft with no more than 15 passengers.

Passenger and Baggage Screening

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is responsible for passenger and baggage screening. They can assist with security screening concerns, carry-on and checked baggage.

Documentation and Forms

When entering the US, you will need to fill out a form provided by a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. This form will require your passport number and flight number, so it is important to have this information on hand.

Prohibited Items

US Customs agents are trained to search for and seize banned agricultural products, counterfeit goods, and illegal drugs. It is important to declare any prohibited items and comply with all customs regulations to avoid delays or legal issues.

Duty-Free Allowance

When entering the US, there is a personal exemption for goods up to a certain value. For example, up to $1,600 in goods from an IP (Intellectual Property) country will be duty-free. It is important to check the specific rules and regulations for the type of goods you are carrying and the country you are coming from.

Connecting Flights

If you are connecting through Canada to a US destination, you will need to clear Canadian customs and immigration, recover your baggage, and then board your connecting flight to the US.

Contact Information

For specific questions or concerns regarding customs procedures at the Abbotsford International Airport, passengers can contact the appropriate authorities:

• Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA): 1-888-294-2202
• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
• US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Abbotsford Airport's runways

Abbotsford International Airport is located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, 2.2 nautical miles (4.1 km; 2.5 mi) southwest of the city centre. It is the second-largest airport in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, after Vancouver International Airport. The airport was constructed in 1943 on land purchased by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940.

The airport has two runways. The first runway, 07/25, is 9,600ft long and is paved with asphalt and concrete. In 2005, this runway was extended from its original length of 5,100 ft (1,555 m). The second runway, 01/19, is 5,328ft in length and paved with asphalt. Both runways were built in a triangular pattern, with each runway measuring 5,100 ft (1,555 m) in length and 200 ft (60 m) wide.

In addition to its runways, the airport has four major taxiways paved with asphalt. A new taxiway, taxiway C, was constructed during the 2011 expansion project, paralleling the primary runway 07/25. The airport also features an aircraft run-up bay that can accommodate up to three medium-weight category aircraft simultaneously near the Cascade Aerospace hangar.

Abbotsford Airport is home to several flying schools and has a longstanding general aviation community. It is also the site of the annual Abbotsford International Airshow, typically held on the second weekend of August. The airshow is one of the largest and most renowned in North America, attracting airplane enthusiasts from across Western Canada and the Northwestern United States.

The airport's history

Abbotsford International Airport (IATA: YXX, ICAO: CYXX) has a rich history that dates back to the early 1940s. Here is a detailed account of the airport's history:

World War II (1940-1945)

The story of Abbotsford Airport begins in 1940 when the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) purchased the land to build the airport. This acquisition was part of a defence strategy to strengthen Allied defences on the west coast following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Canadian government expropriated farmland from fourteen families in the Peardonville area, compensating them $1 each for their land.

In 1942, approval was given for the construction of an airport based on a triangular layout, and by 1943, the airport construction was completed. It featured three 5,100-foot-long runways, each 200 feet wide, arranged in a triangle. The No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School began operations at the airport under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan until 1944. During this period, the airport served as a vital training facility for military pilots.

Post-World War II (1945-1997)

After the war, the airport continued to operate, primarily serving general aviation and as a secondary field to Vancouver International Airport. In 1948, the Fraser River flooded, and the airport barracks provided shelter for people and livestock from Matsqui. The airport also played a role in accommodating 3,000 Hungarian refugees in 1956-57, serving as a temporary home and offering various facilities like a cafeteria, hospital, and ESL classrooms.

In 1960, the airport zoning was registered under the Aeronautics Act, and a control tower began part-time operations in January 1960 to handle diverted flights from Vancouver due to fog. The Abbotsford Air Show, sponsored by the Abbotsford Rotary Club and the Abbotsford Flying Club, took off in 1962 and has since become a renowned annual event.

Current Era (1997-present)

On January 1, 1997, the airport's ownership was transferred from the Department of Transport to the City of Abbotsford for a nominal sum of $10. Later that year, WestJet Airlines' inaugural flight made Abbotsford a jet passenger airport. The new terminal building opened in December 1998, expanding the airport's capacity for scheduled passenger services.

In 2003, Abbotsford Airport operated its first international charter flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Since then, the airport has experienced fluctuations in airline operators and passenger volumes, with a resurgence in air passenger numbers from 2017 onwards. In 2018, the airport announced a $5 million expansion project to add new gates and increase passenger seating capacity.

Today, Abbotsford International Airport continues to serve as a significant transportation hub, offering daily domestic and seasonal international scheduled services while also hosting various events and exhibitions.

Airlines that operate from Abbotsford Airport

Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) is a secondary airport for domestic and international charter flights in the Metro Vancouver area. It is located 40 miles (65 km) southeast of downtown Vancouver, in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and is the second-largest airport in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia.

The airport has a longstanding general aviation community and is home to several flying schools. It offers daily domestic scheduled services and seasonal international scheduled services.

Several major Canadian airlines operate from Abbotsford Airport, including:

• WestJet, which began operating in 1997 and offers flights to destinations such as Edmonton and Calgary.
• Flair Airlines, which launched services in 2016 and offers flights to destinations such as Edmonton and Calgary.
• Swoop, a WestJet subsidiary, which began operations in 2018 and offers flights to destinations such as Edmonton, Winnipeg, Hamilton, and Las Vegas.
• Air Canada Rouge, which offered seasonal service to Toronto between 2015 and 2019 but has not returned since.

Other airlines that have previously operated from Abbotsford Airport include Air Canada, Air Canada Tango, Air Canada Jazz, Air North, Canada 3000, Central Mountain Air, Helijet, Jetsgo, Signature Vacations, Zoom Airlines, Harmony Airways, Peace Air, and ZIP Air.

Frequently asked questions