To support passengers in their journey through the airport, Vancouver International Airport / Aéroport international de Vancouver (YVR) is providing passenger forecasts for the upcoming holiday season as well as winter travel updates and reminders.
For the holiday travel period between December 19 – January 1, today marks the busiest day of the year so far, with an expected 70,761 passengers. Other busy days for this period include December 22 with 67,566 passengers and December 29 with 67,286 passengers expected to travel through the airport. For comparison, in 2019 YVR’s busiest day was December 20 with 75,877 passengers.
During the next two weeks, through January 1, YVR is expecting an average of approximately 64,511 passengers per day for a total of 903,150, connecting these travellers to 94 destinations across Canada and the world. During the same period in 2019, YVR saw an average of 72,178 passengers per day for a total of 1,010,496 over the two-week span. In 2021, YVR saw an average of 38,698 per day for a total of 541,775 for this same period.
Projected daily passenger numbers, including by segment, are highlighted in “two weeks ahead” section below.
Two weeks ahead
Travel forecasts for the weeks of December 19, 2022 – January 1, 2023
Total Passengers - 903,150
Total Arrivals - 444,594
- Domestic - 227, 353
- U.S. - 113, 500
- International - 103, 741
Total Departures - 458, 556
- Domestic - 234, 487
- U.S. - 107, 246
- International - 116, 823
Daily
- Monday, Dec 19: 70,761
- Tuesday, Dec 20: 64,476
- Wednesday, Dec 21: 65,285
- Thursday, Dec 22: 67,566
- Friday, Dec 23: 64,593
- Saturday, Dec 24: 63,497
- Sunday, Dec 25: 57,788
- Monday, Dec 26: 64,887
- Tuesday, Dec 27: 64,179
- Wednesday, Dec 28: 64,531
- Thursday, Dec 29: 67,286
- Friday, Dec 30: 63,689
- Saturday, Dec 31: 62,033
- Sunday, Jan 1: 62,579
Peak times by sector for check-in and security screening
- 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Domestic)
- 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (International)
- 5:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (U.S.)
94 destinations served
Across Canada and worldwide
* All data is based on actual operations and compiled by Vancouver Airport Authority. Data is subject to change. Passenger and operational data is updated regularly and posted to our Facts & Stats page on YVR.ca.
Highlights and travel reminders:
- Masks are no longer mandatory in the terminal but recommended.
- Vancouver is experiencing winter weather conditions as are other cities across Canada. Know that flight delays or cancellations at YVR occur for a variety of reasons, including managing departure times with airline partners and NAV CANADA, weather elsewhere in the country, and operations at other airports. Travellers are reminded to check latest flight details at YVR.ca or with the airline before coming to the airport.
- Please arrive at the airport early—two hours ahead of scheduled domestic flights and three hours ahead for U.S. and international flights. Consider taking Canada Line.
- Travellers flying within Canada or to the U.S. can use YVR EXPRESS to reserve their spot in security screening up to 72 hours before their flight.
- Travellers heading to the U.S. from Vancouver International Airport / Aéroport international de Vancouver also have the option to submit their passport and customs declaration information through the secure Mobile Passport Control app in advance of their trip, reducing passport control inspection time and overall wait time.
- Be sure to follow all Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)baggage requirements. Remember: liquids, gels and aerosols need to be in containers that are less than 100 milliliters and be packaged into one transparent, closed, and resealable plastic bag that is under one litre. Avoid wrapping holiday gifts - contents may need to be inspected during the screening progress for both carry-on and checked baggage!
- Driving to the airport? Passengers can reserve their spot online and save on the price by booking on yvr.ca/parking.
- Those returning from the U.S. or an international destination can use ArriveCAN to submit customs information and follow signs for Advance CBSA Declaration (ACD) Express Lanes to move through the customs process more quickly.
More information to help travellers prepare for their next trip through YVR, including travel measures and top tips, is available on YVR’s top 10 holiday travel tips.
YVR thanks everyone for their patience and appreciates all the people who have been working so hard in the cold and snow to get people on their way safely.