Richmond Vancouver International Airport Arrivals (YVR)

Vancouver International Airport serves the city of Vancouver and its metropolitan areas, and is a large Canadian airport on the western coastline of the country. It is rated as the second largest airport in Canada, and is considered as a major gateway between Canada and Asia. The airport is located approximately 12km, or 7.5 miles from Downtown Vancouver, and is recognised by its official IATA code of YVR. Passengers arrive at the airport on flights from a large number of airline companies, and the Vancouver Airport arrival areas are well structured to receive millions of passengers every year. Arriving passengers also have access to several transport options from the airport terminals.

Vancouver Airport is found on Sea Island to the south of Downtown Vancouver. It is in the area of Richmond, and is nearby to Marpole, Oakridge and Thompson. The airport is also alongside the Strait of Georgia and to the east of Vancouver Island. The airport serves the city of Vancouver, as well as other smaller towns in British Columbia, and is an excellent arrival point for tourists and business professionals. Vancouver is a unique city located between snowy mountains and the ocean, and is considered as one of the most attractive in the country. It’s city area is lined with stylish skyscrapers, but it is also a city with plenty of green areas. One of the largest of these is Stanley Park, a major attraction of Vancouver. Vancouver attractions also include the aquarium, with more than 20,000 marine creatures, the Christ Church Cathedral, which is a historic building, and Playland, a popular amusement park. There are a number of interesting museums in Vancouver as well.

The airport of Vancouver handled just over 17 million passengers in 2011, and is the country’s second busiest airport. Toronto Pearson International Airport is the largest. It is a hub for Air Canada, Air Canada Express and Transat, and is also important for WestJet’s operations. The airport is owned by Transport Canada, but managed by Vancouver International Airport Authority, and is one of eight in Canada that have U.S. Border Preclearance facilities. Flights arrive at Vancouver Airport from a wide variety of local and international destinations, including Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Kelowna, Edmonton, Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Dallas, Seattle, Frankfurt, Paris, London and Glasgow-International. A few of the many airline companies which serve the airport include Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Canadian North, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airline, Harbour Air, KLM, Lufthansa, United Airlines and West Coast Air.

There are several Vancouver Airport arrival areas, as there are three terminal buildings for passenger facilities. The terminal of arrival will depend on the origin of the flight, rather than the airline company, as there is a Domestic Terminal for all local flights, an International/U.S. Terminal for flights to and from international destinations and the U.S. and a terminal for a few regional airline companies. This is the South Terminal, located at a fair distance from the other two buildings, which are alongside each other, and is home to the airline companies of KD Corporations, Orca Airways and Pacific Coastal Airlines. It is also a hub for other types of aircraft, such as float planes and helicopters. A free shuttle bus takes passengers between the South Terminal and the other airport buildings.

Passengers arriving at either one of the three terminals will find extensive airport facilities, and all that is required in terms of personal services. Vancouver Airport has been the proud receiver of the Skytrax ‘Best North American Airport’ award twice in the past few years, and is also known as the Best Canadian Airport. It is the first airport with four spas, North America’s Plaza Premium lounges, an airport 7-Eleven and healthcare services that include medical and dental clinics. A pharmacy is available as well. Plenty of airport shops and restaurants can be found within the terminals, and banking and currency exchange services are offered by the Royal Bank of Canada and ICE Currency Services. Throughout the airport, Green Coat volunteers can be found, who are people able to assist with basic passenger enquiries, or further information can be found at the airport counters. Vancouver Airport has two British Columbia Visitor Centres as well, for assistance with accommodation reservations, Vancouver attractions and activity tickets and transportation. The centres are found on Level 2 of the Domestic and International Terminals, which is the arrival level.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel can be accesses from the airport concourse, and offers luxury services and conference facilities for up to two hundred people. It is also known as the Best North American Hotel, and is featured in the Condé Nast Traveller’s Top 100 Gold List. Facilities at the hotel include a Health Club, a sauna, a mechanized lap pool and a luxurious spa. Vancouver International Airport is fully equipped for arriving passengers with disabilities as well, and has ensured their comfort through several adaptations and services. There are accessible restrooms, telephones and customer care counters.

Common meeting places at Vancouver Airport include the Public Greeting Area at the International and Domestic Terminals, the Public Observation Area and the Spirit of Haida Gwaii, The Jade Canoe, which is one of Canada’s most recognisable sculptures in the centre of the International Terminal. Transport is also available by trains to downtown Richmond and Vancouver, as the airport has its own train station between the terminals, or by bus, to various near and far destinations. Shuttles travel to the popular hotels nearby, and long-distance coaches offer transport to Whistler, Seattle and Victoria, on Vancouver Island. Taxis and limousines are available from outside the airport arrival areas.

Arriving passengers in need of transport could also rent a car, from one of the Vancouver Airport car hire companies, such as Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, Thrifty, Budget, Auto Europa and Dollar. Enterprise is one of the off-site airport car hire companies. Live Vancouver Airport arrival schedules can be viewed on various online websites, or the airport can be contacted at 604-207-7077.