Buses to and from Victoria International Airport (YYJ)

Victoria International Airport is located approximately 22km, or 14 miles from the city of Victoria, on the Saanich Peninsula. Victoria is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada, and is a popular area for tourists. The airport serves around 1.5 million passengers per annum, and is a modern and well-equipped establishment. It is quite far from the city, but passengers have several options for transport, including the Victoria International Airport buses that are frequently available. There are public airport buses that are very reasonably priced, as well as an airport shuttle that is a good option for travel to various hotels in downtown Victoria. Airport buses travelling to further destinations are available as well.

Victoria International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in Canada, and is known by its IATA code of YYJ. It can also be referred to as the Sidney Airport, due to its position so close to the area of Sidney. The airport has a single terminal building that has recently received two new passenger loading bridges and a new car park. The terminal is due for further expansion during the next ten years, and may also become one of the airports in Canada with U.S. border preclearance facilities. The airport is served by several important airline companies, which fly to various cities in Canada, the United States of America and other international destinations. Passengers arriving at Victoria Airport will find various forms of ground transportation available, just outside of the arrivals area. There are several airport buses, as well as taxis. Akal Airporter is the airport shuttle that takes passengers to many of the hotels in the city and to Butchart Gardens, and BC Transit, the company for public transportation in British Columbia, has three bus routes which serve the airport.

Victoria International Airport Buses – the Akal Airporter

The Akal Airporter bus is an excellent option for passengers who wish to travel to the city of Victoria, and especially to the hotels of the city. The bus stops at all the downtown hotels, and could also offer transport services to the University of Victoria, CFB Esquimalt, senior homes, shopping centres and bed and breakfasts. Passengers will travel on one of Akal’s new deluxe buses, and will have room to store their luggage. Two bags and one carry item are allowed per person free of charge, but oversized or extra baggage and bikes will incur additional charges.

Passengers who would like to make use of the Akal Airporter to or from Victoria International Airport should call the company between the hours of 05:00 and 22:00 to make a reservation. Akal Airporter can be reached at 1-250-386-2525 or at 1-877-386-2525. The first number can be used by persons who are in Victoria, British Columbia, and the second is for persons who are anywhere in North America. Fares for the Akal Airporter bus are one-way only, and will cost about $21.00 per adult to the downtown area of Victoria. Two adults will cost $19.00 each and $13.00 will be charged per person for groups of three or more. Destinations outside of the downtown area are little more expensive: $27.00 for one adult, $19.00 per person for two adults and $15.00 per person for groups of three or more. Children aged 3 – 12, regardless of their destinations will cost $13.00 each and children under three ride for free. A short trip to the McTavish Park and Ride will be just $3.00 per person.

The Akal Airporter Victoria International Airport bus also offers transport services for conferences, tours, weddings and school graduation groups, and transport to Butchart Gardens, Bear Mountain Resort, Royal Road University and the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. To downtown Victoria the buses are available every half an hour and three scheduled tours to Butchart Gardens are available. Only group bookings are taken for Bear Mountain Resort, Royal Road University and the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. The telephone number to call for travel bookings to Butchart Gardens is 250-386-2516.

Victoria International Airport Buses – Public Bus Services

Public transport in British Columbia is managed by BC Transit, and there are public buses that run to the Victoria International Airport. They are the cheapest form of ground transport available, costing just $2.50 per person. There are twenty departures to and from Victoria International Airport and the McTavish Transit Exchange with several connections to Swartz Bay, the Saanich Peninsula and downtown Victoria. The airport is served by the BC Transit routes 83, 86 and 88. No reservations are required for the public bus services that travel from the airport.

The public buses from the airport can take luggage, but oversize luggage and backpacks can be difficult to accommodate. Bike racks are available anytime on all the buses, besides number 83, when they are limited to daylight hours only. Tickets for the buses can also be purchased in booklets of ten, for $22.50, and day passes are available for $7.75.

Victoria International Airport Buses – Long Distance

The companies of Greyhound Bus Lines and Pacific Coach Lines are used for long distance journeys. Greyhound, or the Vancouver Island Coach, can be contacted at (250)388-5248 and reservations for Pacific Coach Lines can be made at 1-800-661-1725.

The Victoria International Airport buses are a very convenient way to travel to various destinations, and are one of the cheapest forms of ground transport available. For further assistance in the airport terminal, the Red Coat Ambassadors can be found at the information counters in the arrivals area.