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Victoria International Airport

Coordinates: 48°38′50″N 123°25′33″W / 48.64722°N 123.42583°W / 48.64722; -123.42583
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"Victoria Airport" redirects here. For the largest airport in Victoria, Australia, see Melbourne Airport. For other uses, see Victoria Airport (disambiguation).
Victoria International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerTransport Canada[1]
OperatorVictoria Airport Authority
ServesVictoria, British Columbia
LocationNorth Saanich, British Columbia
Time zonePST (UTC−08:00)
 • Summer (DST)PDT (UTC−07:00)
Elevation AMSL64 ft / 20 m
Coordinates48°38′50″N 123°25′33″W / 48.64722°N 123.42583°W / 48.64722; -123.42583
Websitewww.victoriaairport.com
Map
CYYJ is located in British Columbia
CYYJ
CYYJ
Location in British Columbia
CYYJ is located in Canada
CYYJ
CYYJ
CYYJ (Canada)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 6,998 2,133 Asphalt
03/21 5,027 1,532 Asphalt
14/32 5,001 1,524 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft movements108,034
Number of passengers1,740,107
Sources: Canada Flight Supplement[2]
Environment Canada[3]
Victoria Airport Authority Facts & Stats[4]

Victoria International Airport (IATA: YYJ, ICAO: CYYJ) serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is 12 nautical miles (22 km; 14 mi) north northwest[2] of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula, with the bulk of the airport (including the passenger terminal) in North Saanich, and a small portion of the airfield extending into Sidney. The airport is run by the Victoria Airport Authority. YYJ has many nonstop daily flights to Vancouver International Airport (YVR, about 15 minutes), which is a major airport serving many global routes. Additionally, Victoria International has nonstop service to Seattle (SEA), Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL, summer only), Calgary (YYC), Edmonton (YEG), and several smaller cities in British Columbia and Yukon.[5] The airport also has seasonal (late fall to early spring) nonstop service to several Mexican resort destinations.[5] Non-stop service between Victoria and the United States decreased by 50% at the beginning of September 2019 when Delta Airlines permanently ended its three daily flights to Seattle, after which only Alaska Airlines continued to fly the route.[6]

Victoria International Airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle aircraft with no more than 450 passengers, when unloaded from the aircraft in stages, or 120 normally.[2] YYJ does not have United States customs and border preclearance, but many passengers fly first to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which does have U.S. preclearance.

In 2023, YYJ served 1,740,107[4] passengers and had 108,034[4] aircraft movements, making it Canada's 11th busiest airport in terms of passengers. It was British Columbia's third busiest airport in terms of passengers and aircraft movements. The airport is also home to Arundel Castle, the operating base for 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force.[7]

Like most airports that are run by local authorities in Canada, YYJ charges an airport improvement fee for each outgoing passenger. As of April 2024, it was $25.00 per departing passenger.[8] AIF fees are usually added to fares and collected automatically by most airlines.

History

[edit]

The airport started in 1939 as a grass strip, and was used as a military training airfield.[9] During the early part of World War II (1940–1941), the airfield was used as Royal Air Force Station Patricia Bay, providing basic flight training for Royal Air Force pilots preparatory to returning them to the UK.

In approximately 1942 the aerodrome became a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) installation listed as RCAF Aerodrome - Patricia Bay, British Columbia at 48°39′N 123°26′W / 48.650°N 123.433°W / 48.650; -123.433 with a variation of 24 degrees east and elevation of 25 ft (7.6 m). The aerodrome was listed with three runways as follows: [10]

Runway name Length Width Surface
13/31 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard surfaced
8/26 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard surfaced
2/20 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 200 ft (61 m) Hard surfaced

The airport is located beside Patricia Bay, which, due to the prevalence of flying boats at the time, proved to be an excellent location. The Department of Transport took over the airport in 1948. It was then called Victoria (Patricia Bay) Airport, and many locals still refer to it as the "Pat Bay Airport". Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) began regular service in 1943.[citation needed]

In 1959, the airport was renamed the "Victoria International Airport".[citation needed]

The last RCAF unit left the airport in 1952.[citation needed] In July 1989, Canadian Forces Air Command[a] returned to Victoria International Airport when HS 443 Squadron, which operated CH-124 Sea King ship-borne anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, was relocated from CFB Shearwater to better support Canadian Forces Maritime Command[a] operations in the Pacific. In 1995, the squadron was redesignated as 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron.[11]

In 1997, as part of a broad scale restructuring of airports across Canada, Transport Canada (formerly the Department of Transport), gave operational control of the airport to the Victoria Airport Authority.[citation needed]

In 2000, the Victoria Airport Authority began the process of renovating and expanding the terminal to meet passenger needs. In 2002, the new airside hold room and the new arrivals rotunda were rebuilt. By 2005, the new departures area was completed.[citation needed]

A United Express CRJ200 at Victoria International Airport a week before service ended

In May 2005, the federal government, which owns the land, announced a reduction in the rent paid by the Victoria Airport Authority. This will save $0.6 million each year and $12 million over the life of the lease, which is 50 years.[citation needed]

In 2015, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron moved into a new $155 million heliport at the airport, which the RCAF[a] titled Arundel Castle after the major landmark of that name in West Sussex, the English county where the unit operated when it was a fighter squadron flying the Supermarine Spitfire during World War II. The main mission of 443 Squadron in the 21st century is to provide ASW and logistical support for the Royal Canadian Navy.[7] As of 2022, 443 Squadron is responsible for all Canadian west coast operations of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.[11]

In July 2016, Westjet Airlines announced that they would be permanently ending service to Honolulu from Victoria. The non-stop route had started in 2009 and had ended due to the lack of demand.[12]

In September 2018, United Airlines announced that the daily United Express flight from Victoria to San Francisco would permanently end on January 7, 2019, concluding over a decade of daily non-stop service between the two cities.[13]

In March 2019, Delta Air Lines announced that all Delta flights from Victoria to Seattle would permanently end on September 2, 2019,[6] concluding a three-year presence by the airline in Victoria and leaving Alaska Airlines as the only airline serving Victoria directly from Seattle or anywhere in the United States. Delta was the second airline to leave Victoria that year, after United Airlines withdrew service in January 2019.[13]

Terminal

[edit]
Departure/check-in area
Domestic baggage claim area
Twin Otter 400, first test flight
Delta Connection (Skywest), Air Canada Express (Jazz), United Express (Skywest) and Pacific Coastal Airlines aircraft parked at Victoria International Airport in August 2017

The main terminal has ten gates, organized as gates 3–4, 5–11, and 12–13. Gates 3-4 and 12-13 are equipped with aircraft loading bridges.[14]

Air North Boeing 737-500 at the gate in Victoria

There are three luggage carousels: two located at the arrivals area for domestic passengers, and one for international flights located inside the customs area.

As of December 1, 2010,[15] time limited, ad supported[16] Wi-Fi internet service provided by Telus is available terminal wide.[17]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]
Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300 at Victoria (CYYJ), July 2017

Most commercial flights at Victoria fly either to airports in nearby British Columbia and Alberta or to western Washington. Seasonal scheduled flights by WestJet connect Victoria to tourist destinations in Mexico and Las Vegas. For the Summer 2017 season, Air Canada Rouge operated wide-body Boeing 767s on its daily flights to Toronto.[18][19]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Toronto–Pearson
Air Canada Express Vancouver
Air Canada Rouge[20] Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Air North Vancouver, Whitehorse
Alaska Airlines Seattle/Tacoma
Flair Airlines Seasonal: Calgary, Edmonton
Harbour Air Vancouver[21]
Kenmore Air Friday Harbor[22]
Pacific Coastal Airlines Kamloops,[23] Kelowna, Prince George, Vancouver
Porter Airlines Toronto–Pearson[24]
Sunwing Airlines Seasonal: Cancún, Puerto Vallarta (both begin December 10, 2024)[25]
WestJet Calgary, Edmonton
Seasonal: Cancún, Las Vegas,[26] Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo,[27] Toronto–Pearson,[28] Winnipeg
WestJet Encore Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Vancouver
Map of North American passenger destinations
class=notpageimage|
Destinations from Victoria International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Green = Seasonal destination
Blue= Future destination

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
FedEx Express Vancouver
KF Cargo Vancouver
Morningstar Air Express Vancouver
SkyLink Express Vancouver

Statistics

[edit]

Annual traffic

[edit]
Annual passenger traffic at YYJ airport. See Wikidata query.
Annual passenger traffic[4]
Year Passengers % change
2010 1,514,713 Steady
2011 1,499,792 Decrease -1%
2012 1,504,024 Increase 0.3%
2013 1,556,960 Increase 3.4%
2014 1,650,904 Increase 6.0%
2015 1,710,825 Increase 3.6%
2016 1,856,421 Increase 8.5%
2017 1,934,842 Increase 4.2%
2018 2,048,627 Increase 5.9%
2019 1,924,385 Decrease 6.5%
2020 574,874 Decrease 70.2%
2021 673,748 Increase 17.2%
2022 1,490,039 Increase 121.2%
2023 1,740,107 Increase 16.8%

Development plans

[edit]

The Victoria International Airport Master Plan 2023-2024 lays out the long-term development and future plans of the airport.[29] The Master Plan highlights future infrastructure growth for the airport in two phases, 2023-2032 and 2033-2042.

2023 - 2032

[edit]
WestJet primarily flies their Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft to Calgary and Edmonton from Victoria

Airfield

[edit]
  • Runway end safety areas
  • Enhanced taxiway filets for larger aircraft
  • Apron IV expansion to support demand growth
  • Upgrade Runway 09 approach lighting to CAT I SSALR
  • Runway 09-27 extension would provide a greater safety buffer for long haul flights to potential future international destinations

Terminal

[edit]
  • Eastern expansion to support demand growth for aircraft gates, check-in area, outbound baggage system and offices
  • Western expansion to support demand growth for aircraft gates, international/CBSA facilities, and inbound baggage system
  • Central expansion to support demand growth for pre-board screening

Landside

[edit]
  • Expanded Electra Boulevard and development of a roundabout at the new intersection with Willingdon Avenue
  • Parking expansion at the terminal building to support demand growth
  • Ongoing improvement to the recreational path and supporting areas

Commercial

[edit]
  • Leasing of commercial lots that are readily available
  • Improvements to infrastructure to make additional lots available as required by demand

2033 - 2042

[edit]

Airfield

[edit]
  • Apron IV expansion to support demand growth
  • Closure of Runway 03-21 to enable growth of the terminal building and Apron IV
  • Northern taxiway development to support demand for airside commercial lots

Terminal

[edit]
  • Western expansion to support demand growth for aircraft gates

Landside

[edit]
  • Parking expansion at the terminal building to support demand growth
  • Ongoing improvement to the recreational path and supporting areas

Commercial

[edit]
  • Increased land availability due to closure of Runway 03-21
  • Leasing of commercial lots that are readily available
  • Improvements to infrastructure to make additional lots available as required by demand

Flight training

[edit]

There are several organisations that offer flight training at the airport:

  • Ocean Air Floatplanes (charter service, tours, float plane training using Cessna 180H)
  • Victoria Flying Club (small prop aircraft training, charter service, float plane, Multi-engine IFR Training, Red Bird Simulator)
  • Royal Canadian Air Cadets

Ground transport

[edit]

Victoria International Airport is 22 km from downtown Victoria.

It is served by taxi (Yellow Cab).

BC Transit routes 87 and 88 make connections to the airport.[30] Passengers using BC Transit can connect with intercity bus service in Victoria.

By car, the airport is normally a 20-minute drive from downtown Victoria (with little or no traffic, and a 40-minute drive with traffic) via Highway 17. The airport has short term and long term/daily parking lots next to the terminal with an additional overflow lot. Rental lot is located to the southwest of the terminal building.

A interchange at Highway 17 and McTavish Road, the main highway access point to the airport, was completed in April 2011. Funding for the interchange was shared between the federal, provincial governments and Victoria Airport Authority.[31]

Fire and rescue

[edit]

Victoria International Airport Fire and Rescue operates three crash tenders and one support vehicle to deal with emergencies at the airport. The current station (Airport Fire Service and Airport Operations) opened in 2010 to replace the former station dating back to World War II.[32]

Fixed-base operations

[edit]
  • Shell Aerocentre
  • Vancouver Island Helicopters (VIH)
  • Viking Air

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c In 1968, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, and Canadian Army were consolidated into the unified Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as Air Command, Maritime Command, and Land Forces respectively. In 2011, the pre-1968 service names were restored, although the unified command structure of the CAF did not change.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "List of airports owned by Transport Canada". Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ Synoptic/Metstat Station Information Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d "Victoria Airport Authority Facts & Stats". Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Non-Stop Destinations". Victoria International Airport. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b Duffy, Andrew (8 March 2019). "Delta Airlines pulls service from Victoria International Airport". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  7. ^ a b Bell, Jeff (April 9, 2015). "New home at Victoria airport has helicopter unit flying high". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "Victoria airport improvement fee rising to $25 for departing passengers". Victoria Airport. 8 February 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  9. ^ British Columbia Aviation Museum Archived March 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Staff writer (c. 1942). Pilots Handbook of Aerodromes and Seaplane Bases Vol. 2. Royal Canadian Air Force. p. 146.
  11. ^ a b "443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron". canada.ca. Government of Canada. February 22, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "WestJet cancels Victoria-Hawaii direct flights, cites low demand". Victoria Times Colonist. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  13. ^ a b Wilson, Carla. "United Airlines axing Victoria-San Francisco flight". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  14. ^ "Terminal Map" (PDF). Victoria International Airport. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  15. ^ Victoria International Airport (YYJ) - Free Wireless Internet Arrives! - News Archived January 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Victoriaairport.com (December 1, 2010). Retrieved on July 12, 2013.
  16. ^ Victoria Airport partners with BOLDstreet. Wings Magazine (2011-01-31). Retrieved on 2013-07-12.
  17. ^ Victoria International Airport (YYJ) - Services & Facilities Archived 2012-01-23 at the Wayback Machine. Victoriaairport.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.
  18. ^ "Air Canada to offer daily Victoria-Toronto flights on Boeing 767". Vancouver Island. 2017-02-15. Archived from the original on 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  19. ^ "282-passenger 767-300 wide-body jet returns for Victoria-Toronto flights in 2019". Citified. 2018-11-14. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  20. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). Air Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  21. ^ Liu, Jim (November 1, 2024). "Harbour Air Launches Vancouver – Victoria Wheeled Flight From Nov 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kenmore Air Adds Victoria to their Paine Field Flight Schedule". Everett Post. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "Pacific Coastal Airlines Expands Service with New Route Between Victoria and Kamloops". Pacific Coastal Airlines. July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  24. ^ "Porter Airlines expands presence in British Columbia with service between Victoria and Toronto Pearson". Newswire. June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "Sunwing announces its 2024-2025 winter schedule with the addition of three new sun destinations Canadians can explore, including Tulum, Camaguey-Santa Lucia and San Andrés". Cision. August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  26. ^ "WestJet announces transborder connectivity between Victoria and Las Vegas". WestJet. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  27. ^ "WestJet NW23 Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  28. ^ "WestJet's Expansive Summer 2024 Schedule". WestJet. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  29. ^ "YYJ Master Plan 2023-2042" (PDF). Victoria International Airport. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  30. ^ "BC Transit will offer more frequent service to Victoria International Airport". Victoria Buzz. 2018-08-20. Archived from the original on 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  31. ^ BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure McTavish Interchange Project Archived December 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "Victoria International Airport". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Victoria International Airport.

Onsite operators

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