Roberta Aguirre
Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ, ICAO: CYYJ) serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) north-northwest of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula. The airport offers non-stop daily flights to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), as well as international service to Seattle (SEA) and domestic service to major cities across Canada. With a significant number of passengers and aircraft movements, it is one of the busiest airports in Canada.
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What You'll Learn
Victoria International Airport's location and history
Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ, ICAO: CYYJ) is located 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) north-northwest of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula. The bulk of the airport, including the passenger terminal, is in North Saanich, with a small portion of the airfield extending into Sidney. The airport is run by the Victoria Airport Authority and is served by taxi and BC Transit routes 87 and 88. It is usually a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria via Highway 17.
The airport is located beside Patricia Bay, which proved to be an excellent location due to the prevalence of flying boats at the time. It was first known as Victoria (Patricia Bay) Airport, and many locals still refer to it as the "Pat Bay Airport". Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) began regular service in 1943. The airport was renamed Victoria International Airport in 1959.
The Victoria Airport Authority acknowledges that the airport operates on the homeland of the WSÁNEĆ people, whose historical relationship with the land continues today. The Authority is committed to strengthening its relationships with the Tseycum First Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, Tsawout First Nation, and Pauquachin First Nation by finding opportunities for meaningful partnership in the airport's operations and future developments.
Victoria International Airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers can handle aircraft with up to 450 passengers when unloaded in stages or 120 passengers normally. The airport does not have United States customs and border preclearance. In 2024, YYJ served 1,872,033 passengers and had 95,615 aircraft movements, making it Canada's 11th busiest airport.
Most commercial flights from Victoria International Airport serve nearby airports in British Columbia and Alberta or western Washington. There are also seasonal flights to tourist destinations in Mexico and Las Vegas. The airport offers non-stop daily flights to Vancouver International Airport, which serves many global routes. Additionally, it provides non-stop international service to Seattle and domestic services to Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton, along with several smaller cities in British Columbia and Yukon.
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Airlines and destinations
Victoria International Airport, located in North Saanich, serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is around 14 miles from Victoria. The airport is run by the Victoria Airport Authority.
Victoria International Airport has many non-stop daily flights to Vancouver International Airport, which serves many global routes. The airport also offers non-stop international service to Seattle and seasonal scheduled flights to tourist destinations in Mexico and Las Vegas. In addition, the airport provides domestic service to Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal (summer only), Calgary, and Edmonton. Several smaller cities in British Columbia and Yukon are also connected via the airport.
The airport also has a seasonal (late fall to early spring) non-stop service to several Mexican resort destinations.
Victoria Inner Harbour Airport, on the other hand, is an airport located in Victoria Harbour, adjacent to Victoria, British Columbia. This airport caters only to floatplanes and seaplanes and can handle small airline and general aviation aircraft with no more than 15 passengers.
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Passenger numbers and aircraft movements
Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ, ICAO: CYYJ) serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The airport is located 12 nautical miles (22 km or 14 mi) north-northwest of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula. The bulk of the airport, including the passenger terminal, is in North Saanich, while a small portion of the airfield extends into Sidney.
Victoria International Airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers can handle aircraft with no more than 450 passengers when unloaded in stages or 120 normally. The airport does not have US customs and border preclearance facilities, so many passengers fly to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which offers this service, before continuing on to the US.
In 2024, YYJ served 1,872,033 passengers and recorded 95,615 aircraft movements, making it Canada's 11th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. It was the third busiest airport in British Columbia for both passengers and aircraft movements.
Most commercial flights at YYJ serve nearby airports in British Columbia and Alberta or western Washington. The airport also offers seasonal scheduled flights to tourist destinations in Mexico and Las Vegas. For example, Air Canada Rouge operated wide-body Boeing 767s on its daily flights to Toronto during the 2017 summer season.
YYJ also has non-stop international service to Seattle (SEA) and domestic services to Ottawa (YOW), Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL, summer only), Calgary (YYC), and Edmonton (YEG), as well as several smaller cities in British Columbia and Yukon. Seasonal (late fall to early spring) non-stop services are also available to several Mexican resort destinations.
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Future development plans
Victoria International Airport, serving Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, has announced a $600 million expansion plan that will last 20 years. The expansion will include the airfield, the passenger terminal building, landside (roads, parking, and recreational areas), and commercial areas. The airport is 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) north of Victoria on Vancouver Island and is the 11th busiest airport in Canada, handling nearly two million passengers in 2019 and 2024.
The expansion plan will be conducted in two stages. The first stage, from 2023 to 2032, will focus on safety areas at the end of the runways, with the construction of Runway 09-27 providing a greater safety buffer for long-haul flights to potential future international destinations. The taxiway filets will also be developed to accommodate larger aircraft, and more significant safety measures, including CAT-I lighting, will be implemented. The northern taxiway will be developed during this first phase, and multiple aprons will be expanded to support steady demand growth.
The second stage, from 2033 to 2042, will see the expansion of the terminal building to the east to support growing demand. The expansion will also include the addition of new taxiways and more remote parking areas, including space for aircraft de-icing. Furthermore, the number of check-in and security booths will be increased to handle the growing passenger demand.
In addition to the expansion plan, YYJ is committed to ensuring safe and accessible pathways for pedestrians and cyclists. The Flight Path Safety Improvements project addresses key safety concerns, including trip hazards and insufficient guidance, along Willingdon Road and Electra Boulevard. Structural repairs will be made to up to 600 meters of the Flight Path, and enhanced signage and markings will clarify shared pathway use, ensuring a cohesive and safe experience for all users.
YYJ is also addressing the aging cabling and conduit system for Runway 09-27 edge lighting, which is nearing the end of its 25-year lifecycle. This upgrade will ensure reliable runway lighting and prevent potential failures that could disrupt night operations and airport scheduling. The project includes replacing the aging airfield power duct bank that connects the Power House to the airfield, reducing the risk of power loss to critical systems and allowing for efficient future cabling installations without system shutdowns.
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The airport's classification and staffing
Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ, ICAO: CYYJ) serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The airport is located on the Saanich Peninsula, with the majority of it in North Saanich and a small section of the airfield extending into Sidney.
Airport Classification:
Airports are officially designated and classified based on various factors, including the type of activities conducted, frequency of arrivals and departures, and the number of passenger boardings. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States categorizes public-use airports, heliports, and aviation bases based on commercial passenger traffic.
There are two main types of airports according to the FAA: "primary" and "nonprimary." Primary airports are further classified into non-hub primary, small-hub primary, medium-hub primary, and large-hub primary, based on the number of passenger boardings as a fraction of the national total. Nonprimary airports are then categorized into nonprimary commercial service, reliever, and general aviation airports.
General aviation airports, which include nonprimary commercial service, reliever, and general aviation, are further divided into national, regional, local, basic, and unclassified. National airports, such as Teterboro in New Jersey, handle a large volume of jet traffic and have complex instrument approach systems. Regional airports are commonly found in metropolitan areas and are used for interstate travel. Local airports have infrastructure such as control towers, emergency services, and standard departure and arrival procedures. Basic airports are smaller, often featuring single runways and limited infrastructure, and are popular for pleasure flying and training.
Airport Staffing:
The level of staffing at an airport is influenced by its classification and the volume of passenger traffic it handles. For instance, CBSA officers at Victoria International Airport can manage aircraft with up to 450 passengers when unloaded in stages, or 120 passengers normally.
Airports with higher passenger traffic, such as primary airports, will generally require more staff to manage operations, security, customer service, and other functions. These airports may also have a wider range of commercial services and facilities, requiring additional staffing by independent businesses operating within the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
Victoria International Airport is the closest airport to Victoria County, NB, Canada.
The IATA code for Victoria International Airport is YYJ.
Some destinations with non-stop flights from Victoria International Airport include Vancouver, Seattle, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton.
Victoria (Patricia Bay) Airport or "Pat Bay Airport" was the former name of the airport.
