Public Mandate

In July of 1992, Transport Canada started to transfer management of Canadian airports over to local, community-based, not-for-profit organizations overseen by community boards. These organizations were given a very clear and powerful public mandate—To make the best possible use of airport lands, in such a way to provide social and economic benefit to our community. Vancouver Airport Authority / L'Administration de l’aéroport de Vancouver uses this mandate as a guiding light for all decisions, and combined with our unique operating model allows us to think strategically and long-term to make decisions with the future in mind.

Economic Benefit

YVR fulfills its Public Mandate to provide economic benefit to the community by being a major jobs creator and economic driver for the region.

Through YVR’s operations, as well as tourism and cargo, we help facilitate $20.2 billion in total economic output and $10.4 billion in total GDP across B.C. Both of these statistics have gone up by 20 percent since the last study conducted in 2015. We also help contribute $1.4 billion in total government revenue.

YVR is also a major creator of jobs. There are more than 26,500 people employed at the airport and another 2,000 currently involved in airport construction right now. Additionally, there are more than 126,000 people employed across B.C. as a result of airport activities in sectors like tourism, hospitality, engineering, retail and operations.

To learn more about how YVR provides economic benefit to the community click here.

Social Benefit

YVR also makes good on our Public Mandate and provides social benefits to the community by taking a leadership position on a number of vital social issues including accessibility, diversity and inclusion, Indigenous relations and environmental stewardship. To learn more about how YVR provides social benefits to the community click here.