Vancouver International Airport (YVR) sits on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Downtown Vancouver. Managed by the non-profit Vancouver Airport Authority, the airport covers about 1,340 hectares (3,311 acres). Serving as Canada's primary transpacific hub and second busiest airport by passenger traffic, YVR offers U.S. border pre-clearance facilities and scheduled floatplane operations.
The airport operates via two primary facilities: the Main Terminal and the South Terminal (Airport South). The Main Terminal handles scheduled commercial flights across Domestic (Piers A, B, and C), International (Pier D), and U.S. Preclearance (Pier E) concourses. Meanwhile, the South Terminal and adjacent water docks serve regional carriers, charters, and floatplanes connecting communities across British Columbia.
As a major hub for Air Canada, WestJet, and Pacific Coastal Airlines, YVR hosts major regional and international carrier networks. Air Canada anchors Domestic Pier C alongside International Pier D, while WestJet operates heavily out of Domestic Pier B. US-bound travellers utilize dedicated preclearance facilities in Pier E, while regional regional flights use the historic South Terminal complex.
01 Terminals & concourses
Features Piers A, B, and C for domestic Canadian flights. Constructed in 1968 and renovated in 2005, it serves key domestic routes for major carriers.
Contains Pier D for non-US international flights and Pier E for US border preclearance departures. Features Pacific Northwest Coast Native art, wide-body gates, and a glassed-in island forest.
Part of the original pre-1968 facility serving regional British Columbia airlines, charters, and Helijet. Nearby river docks accommodate scheduled floatplane operations.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at YVR
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from YVR
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Rapid transit (SkyTrain) | The Canada Line links the YVR-Airport station directly to downtown Vancouver and Richmond, operating every 6 to 15 minutes. |
| Bus | The N10 night bus connects terminals to Richmond and downtown Vancouver when SkyTrain is suspended, while route 412 serves the South Terminal. |
| Long-distance bus | YVR Skylynx runs direct bus services from the airport to Squamish, Creekside Village, and Whistler. |
04 Lounges & amenities
A SkyTeam lounge operated by Global Lounge Network is near gate D53, and an Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is located at gate D52.
