Owais Crawford
Vancouver International Airport, also known as YVR Airport, is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the few major international airports with a terminal for scheduled floatplanes. The airport's unique three-letter code, YVR, is an example of the trend in Canadian airport codes that begin with the letter Y. This trend dates back to the 1930s when airports with weather or radio stations used the letter Y for yes in their radio call signs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for YVR code | Y indicates the presence of a weather/radio station at the airport in the 1930s. VR is a sort-of abbreviation of Vancouver. |
| Other examples of Y airport codes | YYC (Calgary), YYZ (Toronto), YUL (Montreal), YKM (Yakima, Washington), YUM (Yuma, Arizona) |
| Vancouver International Airport's ranking | Second busiest airport in Canada, 9th best airport in the world in 2012, 8th in 2013, 9th in 2014 |
| Awards | SkyTrax Best North American Airport award in 2007 and 2010 through 2022, Best Canadian Airport |
| Location | Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia |
| Distance from Downtown Vancouver | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Passenger traffic | 26.2 million |
| US Border Pre-clearance facilities | Yes |
| Number of gates | Over 70 |
| Number of airlines | 53 |
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What You'll Learn
YVR is an acronym for Vancouver
The YVR airport code is derived from the typical three-letter airport codes, where the first letter usually indicates the region. In this case, the 'Y' indicates that the airport is in Canada, and the 'VR' is a shortened form of Vancouver. This pattern is seen in other Canadian airport codes, such as YYC for Calgary, YYZ for Toronto, and YUL for Montreal.
The use of the letter 'Y' as the first letter in Canadian airport codes has an interesting history. In the 1930s, airports with weather or radio stations on their premises used the letter 'Y' for "yes," while those without used 'W' for "without." When the three-letter system was introduced in the 1940s, most Canadian airports had already adopted the 'Y' prefix due to the presence of weather and radio stations. This trend was unique to Canada, and it was decided to maintain the 'Y' prefix for most Canadian airports.
Today, YVR is a significant airport, serving as a trans-Pacific hub with more direct flights to China than any other airport in North America or Europe. It has consistently been recognised as one of the best airports in North America, winning the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award for 12 consecutive years.
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YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada
Vancouver International Airport, also known as YVR, is the second busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic. It is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, just 12 km (7.5 mi) from Downtown Vancouver. YVR is a major hub for Air Canada and WestJet and is known for having more direct flights to China than any other airport in North America or Europe.
The airport's three-letter code, YVR, is assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Most Canadian airport codes begin with the letter "Y". This dates back to the 1930s when airports with on-site weather and radio stations would use the letter "Y" for "yes". When the three-letter system was widely adopted in the 1940s, many Canadian airports already used "Y" due to their weather and radio capabilities.
YVR is well-connected to the surrounding region. A train links downtown Vancouver, YVR, and central Richmond, providing convenient access to the airport. Additionally, YVR has a station on the SkyTrain network, with the Sea Island branch of the Canada Line terminating at the airport.
Vancouver International Airport has been recognised for its excellence, winning the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award for a record 12 consecutive years from 2007 to 2022. It has also ranked among the top 10 airports in the world on several occasions.
To accommodate growing passenger numbers, YVR has undergone various expansion projects. A five-gate expansion was completed in 2009 for the Domestic Terminal's C-Pier, along with food and retail enhancements. Between 2017 and 2021, the International concourse was expanded to the west, adding more gates and improving remote stand operations. Looking ahead, YVR has developed Flight Plan 2037, a master plan outlining 75 projects with a projected cost of $5.6 billion. This plan aims to enable the airport to serve 35 million passengers by 2037, involving the addition of new piers, gates, parking facilities, and improved vehicle access.
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YVR is one of eight Canadian airports with US border preclearance facilities
Vancouver International Airport, also known as YVR, is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia. It is Canada's second busiest airport, serving 26.2 million passengers and is just 12km from Downtown Vancouver. The airport has won several notable awards, including the Skytrax Best North American Airport award for 12 consecutive years (2007-2022).
The YVR airport code is derived from the standard naming convention for Canadian airports, where most codes begin with the letter 'Y'. In the 1930s, airports with weather or radio stations would use the letter 'Y' for 'yes' in their radio call sign, while airports without these facilities would use 'W' for 'without'. When the three-letter system was introduced in the 1940s, most Canadian airports had already adopted the 'Y' prefix, and it was decided to maintain this convention.
YVR is an excellent example of a world-class sustainable hub airport, with a strategic priority to become net-zero by 2030. The airport has also developed a master plan, 'Flight Plan 2037', which includes 75 projects at a projected cost of $5.6 billion. These projects aim to expand facilities, improve vehicle access, and increase the airport's capacity to serve 35 million passengers by 2037.
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YVR has won several notable international best airport awards
YVR, or Vancouver International Airport, has won several notable international best airport awards. The airport serves as Canada's second busiest airport, with 22.3 million passengers in 2016 and a 9.7% increase in 2017, bringing the number of passengers to over 25 million. YVR has been named the 'Best Airport in North America' eight years in a row at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, including in 2017 and most recently in 2024. In 2023, YVR was also named the 'Cleanest Airport in North America' by Skytrax, recognised for its dedication to maintaining a safe and clean environment for passengers, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
YVR has also received other notable accolades, including the CAPA Centre for Aviation's prestigious 'Airport of the Year' Award in 2016 and the World Routes Marketing Award. Additionally, YVR's governing body, the Vancouver Airport Authority, has won the top prize at the National Governance Awards for its commitment to diversity and good governance practices. This award recognises the organisation's dedication to building and sustaining shareholder and stakeholder value, as well as contributing to the competitiveness of Canada's economy.
The Vancouver Airport Authority operates under a unique, award-winning not-for-profit model, allowing it to invest in customer service and airport infrastructure while meeting the needs of the communities it serves. This model has contributed to Canada's reputation for having some of the most efficient, modern, and competitive airports in the world. YVR's success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its employees and partners, who continually strive to serve travellers and the community.
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YVR is the airport code assigned to Vancouver International Airport
YVR is the second busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic, with 26.2 million passengers. It is a hub for Air Canada and WestJet. The airport has won several notable international best airport awards, including the SkyTrax Best North American Airport award in 2007 and 2010 through 2022, for a record of 12 consecutive years.
The airport code YVR is an example of a three-letter airport code, which is assigned to every airport. These codes are used everywhere, from tickets to barcoded luggage tags to boarding passes. While many airport codes are related to the name of the city they serve, some are more associated with the airport's name itself. For example, JFK is the code for New York's John F. Kennedy airport, and CDG is the code for Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
In the case of YVR, the "Y" indicates that it is a Canadian airport, as most Canadian airport codes begin with the letter "Y". This dates back to the 1930s when it was important to know whether an airport had a weather or radio station on-site for safety and landing reasons. If it did, the letter "Y" for "yes" was added in front of the existing radio call sign. When the three-letter system was imposed during the 1940s, most Canadian airports had already been using the "Y" prefix, and it was decided to keep it. The "VR" in YVR is a sort of abbreviation for Vancouver.
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Frequently asked questions
YVR is the three-letter code assigned to Vancouver International Airport. Most Canadian airport codes begin with the letter Y, which was originally used to indicate that the airport had a weather/radio station on its premises.
The Y in YVR indicates that it is a Canadian airport. VR is a sort-of abbreviation of Vancouver.
Yes, Yuma, Arizona (YUM) and Yakima, Washington (YKM) are examples of airports outside Canada that start with the letter Y.
