Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is set for its busiest-ever summer, with more than 6.7 million travellers expected between June 15 and September 2, the Vancouver Airport Authority said Thursday.
That is approximately four per cent more than last year and about one per cent more than the passenger count in 2019, which had been the airport’s historical high.
Of the 6,723,910 passengers expected in the summer travel season, about 48.9 per cent are set to be on domestic routes, while nearly 27.5 per cent are on flights between YVR and the U.S.
The remaining 23.6 per cent are between YVR and international destinations outside the U.S.
The VAA's estimate is that approximately 85,000 passengers will pass through YVR each day during the period the airport considers to be the summer season. Fridays tend to be busiest, with the airport forecasting more than 91,000 passengers on its busiest day: Aug. 8.
Traffic is set to ramp up Friday for the start of an extra-long Canada Day weekend, given that Canada Day falls on a Tuesday this year. Monday, June 30, is expected to be the busiest travel day of the weekend with almost 88,000 passengers, followed closely by Friday, June 27, with more than 87,000 travellers.
In total, the airport is likely to welcome more than 425,000 passengers this weekend, according to the VAA.
The VAA said that the biggest volume travel destinations out of YVR are:
- Toronto
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Montreal
San Francisco, the fifth biggest travel route out of YVR, is the top U.S. destination.
Hong Kong is the top international destination, according to the VAA.
Cargo is key component of airport operations
YVR anticipates about 80,000 tonnes of cargo during the June 15 to Sept. 2 period, which is equivalent to about one quarter of all cargo moved through the airport in a year.
Cargo has been rising at YVR, with businesses in 2024 moving a record 339,000 tonnes of air cargo.
"B.C. cherries continue to be among our top export items, bound for international markets such as Japan, China, and South Korea," the VAA said in a statement. "YVR is a global gateway, helping B.C. and Canadian goods get to international markets and drive our economy."
Bluesky.com/glenkorstrom.bsky.social
