Ruth Haines
Vancouver International Airport, also known as YVR, is an international airport located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the busiest airports in Canada and acts as a significant gateway for international travel to and from the Pacific region. The airport's IATA code, YVR, is derived from the city's first and last letters, with the letter 'Y' retained from Canada's previous coding system, indicating the presence of radio towers near the airport. YVR has won several awards for being the best airport in North America and has consistently ranked highly in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Vancouver International Airport |
| Acronym | YVR |
| IATA Code | YVR |
| Location | Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia |
| Distance from Downtown Vancouver | 12 km |
| Ranking in Canada | Second busiest airport |
| Ranking in North America | Second |
| Number of passengers (2022) | 26.2 million |
| Number of gates in Pier D | 31 |
| Bus gates in Pier D | 7 |
| Total expanse | 1,340 hectares |
| Year land on Sea Island was purchased by Vancouver for aviation purposes | 1929 |
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What You'll Learn
- Vancouver International Airport is YVR because of its city initials and Canada's coding system
- YVR is an IATA code, a location identifier
- YVR is one of eight Canadian airports with US Border Pre-clearance facilities
- YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada
- YVR has been voted the best airport in North America for 12 consecutive years
Vancouver International Airport is YVR because of its city initials and Canada's coding system
Vancouver International Airport is referred to as YVR because of Canada's unique airport naming system. The 'Y' in YVR was retained from Canada's previous coding system, which indicated the presence of radio towers at or near the airport. The 'VR' is derived from the first and last letters of the city of Vancouver.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for Vancouver International Airport is YVR. IATA codes are three-letter codes called Location Identifiers. While some airport codes directly relate to their location, others do not. For example, LAX for Los Angeles and NRT for Narita International Airport are self-explanatory, while YUL for Montreal and YYZ for Toronto are less intuitive.
Vancouver's IATA code is straightforward, with the first letter 'V' and the last letter 'R' of Vancouver combined with the 'Y' from Canada's coding system. However, not all Canadian airports can create their IATA codes by simply combining the first and last letters of their city names. Some airports derive their codes from the identifiers of old telegram stations along the Canadian National Railway System, resulting in codes with a direct historical reference.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, about 12 km (7.5 mi) from Downtown Vancouver. It is one of Canada's busiest airports, serving as a significant gateway for international travel to and from the Pacific region. YVR has won several awards, including the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award for 12 consecutive years from 2007 to 2022.
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YVR is an IATA code, a location identifier
Vancouver International Airport is referred to as YVR because YVR is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code for the airport. IATA codes, also known as location identifiers, are three-letter codes assigned to airports.
Historically, airport codes were two letters long. However, as the number of airports worldwide increased, three-letter codes were introduced in the late 1940s. Canadian airports use IATA codes starting with the letter 'Y' due to their own system pre-dating IATA's current coding system. The letter 'Y' indicates the presence of radio towers at or near the airport. When IATA coding began in the 1930s, Canadian airports already had radio towers, so they retained the letter 'Y' in their codes.
The 'VR' in YVR is derived from the first and last letters of Vancouver. Not all airport codes directly relate to the location of the airport. For example, YUL is the IATA code for Montreal, and YYZ is the code for Toronto. However, some codes are more straightforward, such as LAX for Los Angeles and NRT for Narita International Airport.
YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, serving as a significant gateway for international travel to and from the Pacific region. It is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, about 12 km from Downtown Vancouver. The airport has won several awards, including the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award for 12 consecutive years from 2007 to 2022.
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YVR is one of eight Canadian airports with US Border Pre-clearance facilities
YVR, or Vancouver International Airport, is one of eight Canadian airports with US Border Pre-clearance facilities. The airport is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, and serves as a major hub for both domestic and international travel.
The US Border Pre-clearance program allows travellers to complete the necessary immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections before departing for the United States. This means that travellers can bypass these inspections upon their arrival in the US and proceed directly to their connecting flight or destination. The program is jointly run by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Vancouver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Canada and has won numerous awards for its architecture and design. The airport is known for its focus on supporting the local community and promoting Canadian-made products. YVR has also implemented various initiatives to enhance the travel experience, such as offering exclusive online deals and providing career opportunities within the airport.
As one of the select airports with US Border Pre-clearance facilities, YVR offers several benefits to travellers. The pre-clearance program simplifies the entry process into the United States, making it more efficient and streamlined. Travellers can take advantage of trusted traveller programs such as NEXUS and Global Entry, which are designed to expedite the border crossing process for pre-approved, low-risk individuals. Additionally, the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app allows eligible travellers to submit their passport and customs declaration information through their smartphones, further reducing wait times.
The presence of US Border Pre-clearance facilities at YVR highlights the airport's importance as a key travel hub for those travelling between Canada and the United States. By offering pre-clearance, YVR provides a seamless travel experience and strengthens the collaboration between the two countries' border security agencies.
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YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada
YVR, also known as Vancouver International Airport, is the second busiest airport in Canada. In October 2021, it recorded more than 19,000 flights, second only to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport, which saw just over 23,000 flights.
YVR is a diverse global hub, connecting people, cargo, data, and ideas. It serves as a platform for the local community to thrive, focusing on serving passengers, partners, workers, and the community. The airport supports Canadian-made products and world-class businesses, boosting the local economy.
YVR's growing passenger and cargo numbers reflect its critical role in the region's economy. It hosts 51 airlines serving 120 destinations worldwide and contributes approximately $15 billion to Canada's GDP. A daily wide-body international flight from YVR can generate $33 million in GDP, supporting nearly 400 jobs in various industries.
In 2024, YVR recorded the second-highest passenger count in its history, with 26.2 million travellers passing through, a five per cent increase over the previous year. It also moved 339,000 tonnes of cargo that year, breaking its previous cargo record.
YVR's continuous work to strengthen its position as a global hub has resulted in its ranking as the second busiest airport in Canada, contributing significantly to the country's economy and supporting the local community.
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YVR has been voted the best airport in North America for 12 consecutive years
Vancouver International Airport, also known as YVR, has been voted the best airport in North America for twelve consecutive years by Skytrax World Airport Awards. The airport was also ranked 24th on Skytrax's list of the 100 best airports in the world, ahead of Toronto and Montreal.
The Skytrax World Airport Awards are regarded as the global benchmark for airport excellence. The awards were first launched in 1999 and are based on passenger questionnaires. Over 21.65 million passengers from across the world have completed these surveys, which assess various aspects of the airport experience, including check-in, security, comfort, signage, guest service, transportation, amenities, and friendliness.
YVR is the only airport in the world to have received the title of best airport in North America for twelve years in a row. According to Tourism Vancouver, YVR was also the first airport to win the title for ten consecutive years.
During the pandemic, YVR was the only airport in Canada to receive Skytrax's COVID-19 excellence award. This award recognized the airport's health, hygiene, and safety protocols during the pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
Vancouver International Airport.
YVR.
The 'Y' was retained by Canada from their previous coding system, and 'VR' is derived from the city's first and last letters.
Canadian airports use IATA codes starting with 'Y' due to their own system pre-dating IATA's current coding, which indicates the presence of radio towers at or near the airport.
Yes, YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic.
