Vancouver, a well-known place in the world is one of the famous tourist destinations as well. This place is served by the Vancouver International Airport that lies on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia. Vancouver is the city in Canada making it the most glamorous and beautiful. The airport could be found at a distance of 12 kilometre from Downtown Vancouver. It was the second busiest airport in Canada during 2008 by aircraft movements with 337,802 and also passengers with 17.8 million. What is good point in this airport is that it has won many best airport awards.
Vancouver International Airport is among the eight Canadian Airports having U.S. border preclearance facilities. This airport was owned by Transport Canada and is managed by the Vancouver International Airport Authority. Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a gateway between the two countries which is Canada and Asia. Overall, this airport has total four terminals and also has an official website which is www.yvr.ca. All the terminals are divided into various categories like Domestic Terminal, International Terminal, Transborder Terminal and South Terminal.
Airlines operate from this airport are Air Berlin, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Air China, Air New Zealand, Air North, Air Transat, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian North, CanJet, Cathay Pacific, Central Mountain Air, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Condor, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection operated by Compass Airlines, Delta Connection that are operated by SkyWest Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Enerjet, EVA Air, Flair Airlines, Harbour Air, Hawkair, HeliJet, Horizon Air, Howe Sound Seaplanes, Japan Airlines, KD Air, Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter, KLM, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Mexicana de Aviación, Northern Thunderbird Air, Orca Airways, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Pat Bay Air, Philippine Airlines, Salt Spring Air, San Juan Airlines, Seair Seaplanes, Skyservice, Sunwing Airlines, Sunwing Airlines operated by Aeroméxico, Thomas Cook Airlines, Tofino Air, United Airlines, United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines, US Airways, West Coast Air, WestJet and Whistler Air.
Cargo airlines that are operated from this airport are AirPac Airlines, Allianice Air Cargo, Ameriflight, ABX Air, DB Schenker, Cargojet Airways, Cathay Pacific Cargo, DHL Express, Empire Airlines, Fedex, Kelowna Flightcraft Air Charter, Morningstar Air Express, Purolator Courier, UPS Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Airlines. You can reach from one terminal to the other through ‘Link’ which is a glass corridor walkway linking the International and Domestic terminals. Besides this, a free shuttle also runs between the international and domestic terminals and also the South Terminal.
To reach to the airport from the city, drive through the Laing Bridge and then HWY 99. Later, simply follow the signs for Hwy 99 South from where you will reach to the airport. The airport lies on Grant McConachie Way. Park your car at Parkade which is the nearest car park to the terminals and provides covered parking. Level P1 is used for pick-up and drop-off of passengers. Levels P2 and P3 are used for hourly, daily and weekly parking. Also at the South Terminal you will get hourly and daily parking. The economy car park, cheaper long term car park, 24 hour valet parking service all is available at the airport. In fact, you can even hire a car from any of the car companies who represents the airport. For transportation to the city bus and taxi services are available.
For details head to the customer service counters located on the Departures level of Domestic as well as International terminals. Tourism British Columbia Visitor Information Centre is also there in the Arrivals level of both the terminals that can help you with accommodation, sightseeing and ground transportation tickets. With this, multi-lingual services are there at the airport. The airport provides various facilities like for money and communications bank, ATMs, bureaux de change, fax, photocopying, postal services and others; for eating and drinking licensed bars, restaurants, fast-food outlets, snack bars and coffee shops; for shopping you have variety of shops and duty-free shops; luggage facilities and other facilities like pharmacy, medical clinic, dental clinic, dry cleaners, spa services, 24 hour nursery and children’s play areas all are available at the airport.
For conference and business facilities you have only CDS Business Centre in the International Terminal that offers facilities like fax and photocopying, computer workstations and internet ports. Disabled travellers have several facilities at the airport like general information telephone line for hearing impaired, disabled parking, wheelchairs, shuttle services in between the terminals and car parks that has wheelchair access. You can also make your accommodation at the airport like in Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, Vancouver Airport Marriott and Radisson President Hotel & suites.
If you get time to explore the nearby attractions from the airport then do not miss this golden chance as Vancouver is a set of amazing attractions. Visit the Grouse Mountain close to the airport which will give you beautiful sights and make you feel pleased. Few major attractions worth visiting are Canada Place, Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Historic Gastown, The Vancouver Aquarium, Granville Island, Robson Street where you can try shopping, Chinatown, Dr. Sun Yat Set Gardens and many others. So be the first to explore these sites and experience something great that you have never seen before. This could be done only if you come at the Vancouver International Airport.
