Vancouver International Airport (YVR), located on Sea Island in Richmond, BC, 12 kilometres from downtown Vancouver, serves as a major hub for travellers exploring Canada’s west coast or connecting globally. Handling 26.2 million passengers annually, it’s Canada’s second-busiest airport, offering direct flights to over 80 destinations, including a high number to China. The airport is easily accessible via the Canada Line SkyTrain, which connects to downtown Vancouver in 26 minutes for £9.25 one way, departing every 6–20 minutes from 5:07 am to 12:56 am. The N10 night bus takes over during service disruptions, linking to Richmond and Vancouver.
Taxis and ride-shares cost £20–£35 to the city centre, taking 20–30 minutes, while car rentals from Avis, Budget, and Hertz are located on Level 1 of the parking garage. The 412 bus serves the South Terminal, connecting to Bridgeport Station. Accessibility features include wheelchair-friendly transport, SPARC parking spaces, and assistance bookable 48 hours in advance.
The airport comprises two terminals: the Main Terminal, with concourses A, B, C (domestic), D (international), and E (US), and the South Terminal for regional and floatplane services, linked by a courtesy shuttle. The Main Terminal’s four floors include a services plaza on Level 1, arrivals on Level 2, departures on Level 3, and the Canada Line on Level 4. Clear signage in English, French, and Chinese aids navigation, with walkways and a shuttle bus to Concourse E ensuring easy movement.
Security queues can reach 45 minutes during peak summer or holiday periods, and US-bound passengers face additional pre-clearance checks, so arriving 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international or US ones is advised. A virtual queueing system via the YVR app helps manage security wait times.
On-time performance is generally reliable, with real-time updates on Flightradar24 or the airport’s Operational Snapshot page. Delays may occur due to winter storms, summer crowds averaging 85,000 daily passengers, or air traffic control staffing issues. The airport serves as a hub for Air Canada and WestJet, with minimum connection times of 40 minutes for domestic-to-domestic and 60–90 minutes for international or US flights. Dedicated transit corridors streamline connections, and baggage often transfers without retrieval for same-day flights.
Dining and retail options are plentiful. The Main Terminal’s food court features Tim Hortons, A&W, and Stanley Park Taphouse, open from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm, while the International Terminal offers White Spot for Canadian dishes. Duty-free shops sell perfumes and local souvenirs, and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, accessible via Canada Line, provides additional shopping. Prices can be high, so budget travellers may prefer to bring snacks. The Plaza Premium Lounge, accessible for £30, offers showers and dining at gates B17, C29, D67, and E88.
Facilities enhance comfort. Free Wi-Fi is available, though connectivity can falter during peak times. Charging points, a children’s play area near gate B15, and baby-changing rooms are scattered throughout. The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, Cathay Pacific Lounge with its Noodle Bar, and SkyTeam Lounge cater to eligible passengers. Over 2,000 parking spaces start at £4 per hour, with a free Cell Phone Waiting Area. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, connected to the Main Terminal, suits layovers, as the airport operates 24/7. Accessibility includes low-resistance flooring, doorless restrooms, and Aira services for visually impaired passengers.
Air Canada
Air Canada operates a seasonal direct to Dublin. Irish flights check in at international counters 1-20 in the main terminal, Opens 3 hours before, bag drop up to 4 hours; closes 45 minutes prior. Departure Gates are A or B for transatlantic.
