YLWCYLWMinor

Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna, Canada · North America

Canada’s ninth-busiest airport in a single civil hall — CATSA Plus, a real Okanagan food bench, and $17.50 long-term parking, traded against no lounge, no rail, and Phase 1 construction through late 2026.

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.4
Reliability7.6
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare YLW with another airport

All airports Official site

YLWCYLWMinor

Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.4
Reliability7.6
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare YLW with another airport

All airports

YLWCYLWMinor10°C / 50°F

Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.4
Reliability7.6
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare YLW with another airport

6 photos

Historic 2013 Kelowna International Airport departure holdroom with seating and windows looking onto the apron.

Historic 2007 landside exterior of the Kelowna International Airport terminal with the curved glass facade and curb.

2017 airside view of Kelowna International Airport with the civil terminal and apron in daylight.

WestJet Boeing 737-700 C-GCWJ on the apron at Kelowna International Airport in 2017.

Air Canada Boeing 737 MAX 8 C-FTJV on the apron at Kelowna International Airport in 2017.

August 2006 aerial photograph of Kelowna International Airport showing the single runway and compact civil terminal.

YLWGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours — CATSA opens 3:15 a.m.

Official FAQ and travel-tips cards: be at the terminal at least two hours before departure, domestic or international. Screening is printed 3:15 a.m. until the last departure.

Most counters open two hours prior — call the airline. Overnight stays are not permitted when flights are not operating. CATSA’s YLW wait tile exists but printed “Not available” on 13 Sep 2026. averageSecurityMinutes 12 on the score card is editorial unpublished, not a live CATSA number.

Layout

One terminal — new west departures, not a second airport

One civil building. The January 2026 expansion added the west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint; Phase 1 remaining work runs through late 2026.

IATA is YLW. Do not look for CYLW, YYJ, YXX, or a KF Cargo hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. Wikipedia leftover 10 loading positions / five jet bridges is a pre-expansion reprint.

Food

Eat after CATSA unless you want Ellison or landside Tims

Live official shops page: airside White Spot 4:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. (limited menu after 7:30 p.m.), Vintners Exchange first-to-last flight, Subway 5:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m., Tim Hortons 4:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Landside Ellison Field Taphouse 7:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Tim Hortons 4:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Older official leftover still named Coffee Caravan and a landside White Spot — not on the live shops page. Official pages do not print a bottle price.

Live checks

Eight airlines; no lounge; Long-Term $17.50

Live official carriers are Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, and WestJet. Official pages have no club. Long-Term Lot is $17.50/day or $88/week.

Live destinations table does not print LAX or LAS. FAQ leftover still prices valet at $28.75 / Long-Term $17.25 / weekly $86 — leftover vs the live parking card $29.25 / $17.50 / $88. March 2026 lounge EOI is not an open club.

Live conditions

Right now at YLW

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Okanagan and Interior travellers who would otherwise drive to YVR or YYC
WestJet, Air Canada, Porter, Alaska, or Flair connections from one building
Drivers who will use the $17.50 Long-Term Lot or the free Canco cell lot
NEXUS / CATSA Verified Travellers on a signed CT lane

Watch out for

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass YLW is fiction
Phase 1 remaining construction through late 2026; Sutton Place and the 1,000-stall parkade are not open
Official YLW pages do not print a route number; Wikipedia leftover “no evening bus” is leftover vs BC Transit Route 23
Live destinations table does not print LAX or LAS — confirm FIDS

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,315,432

Terminals

On-time departures

76%

Typical security

12 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YLW.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official facts-and-statistics page: CY 2025 **2,315,432** passengers, an all-time high, vs 2024 **2,133,582** (+8.5%). Same table 2023 **2,032,624**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,409,123**. Official About card: Canada’s **9th** busiest airport and the largest municipally owned airport in Canada. Official About leftover **more than 80** daily non-stop commercial flights with **eight** airlines. Wikipedia leftover **36** commercial departures a day is leftover vs that card.
Operator **City of Kelowna** since **1946**. Official leadership: CEO **Sam Samaddar** (**250-807-4301**); Director, Operations & Innovation **Phillip Elchitz** (**250-807-4304**); Director, Finance & Corporate Services **Shayne Dyrdal** (**250-807-4303**); Director, Commercial & Air Service Development **Tonja Molina** (**250-807-4362**); Director, Planning, Development & Infrastructure **William Lampard**. Search leftover still names **Geoff Ritchie** in the commercial chair — leftover vs the live Molina card. Mayor **Tom Dyas**. Live council cards: **Ron Cannan**, **Maxine DeHart**, **Charlie Hodge**, **Gord Lovegrove**, **Mohini Singh**, **Luke Stack**, **Rick Webber**, **Loyal Wooldridge**. Admin **1-5533 Airport Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1S1**. Switchboard **250-807-4300**. airport@kelowna.ca. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.** Fax **250-765-0213**. Media **ylwmedia@kelowna.ca** / **250-317-0579**. CFS leftover ops line **250-807-4350**. Historical Ellison Field / Dickson Ranch names are gone as passenger branding; IATA stays **YLW**. **Do not create CYLW as a second page.** **Do not merge YYJ, YXX, YYF, or YXC.** KF Cargo / Kelowna Flightcraft is a campus tenant — this is not a cargo-only page.
One civil terminal. Official CATSA screening **3:15 a.m. until the last departure**. Official travel-tips / FAQ clock **at least two hours**. Most counters open **two hours prior** — confirm the airline. Overnight stays are **not permitted** when flights are not operating. New departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened **28 January 2026** (official / Capital News). Official projects: Phase 1 remaining work through **late 2026**; Phase 2 **2030**. Official FAQ Airport Improvement Fee **$25** on each departing (non-connecting) ticket. **No passenger lounge.** Empty `lounges: []`. **Do not seed a placeholder lounge row.**
Live official destinations table (13 Sep 2026), **21** printed routes, **eight** names: **Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, WestJet**. **Do not invent United as live.** Live table does **not** print Los Angeles or Las Vegas — Wikipedia / older official leftover still named Alaska **LAX*** and WestJet **LAS***. Confirm FIDS. Whitehorse is printed as Air North **same-plane via YVR**, not a true nonstop. **No U.S. preclearance.**
`lib/airports.json`: IATA **YLW**, ICAO **CYLW**, 49.956514, −119.378364, America/Vancouver. Official About elev **1,421 ft (433 m)** / runway **8,900 ft (2,713 m)**. CFS leftover (9 Jul 2026 plate): elev **1,420 ft**, 6.2 nm NE, RWY **16/34 9,039×200** asphalt, THLD 16 displ **1,200 ft**, THLD 34 displ **539 ft**, CUST AOE/215 **888-226-7277**, OPR City of Kelowna. Wikipedia leftover timezone **MST** is wrong — Pacific. Wikipedia leftover Owner **Transport Canada** vs official **municipally owned / City of Kelowna**. Origin campus **320 acres** (1946 Dickson Ranch). Official history leftover still prints the **1998** terminal as **76,000 sq ft** — pre-2026 expansion.

19 official sources

Full guide

Explore the YLW guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Alternatives

Nearby airports

Passenger airports within about 150 km. Scored airports show their Airportist Score so you can weigh a switch.

All airports Official site

YLWCYLWMinor10°C / 50°F

Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.3
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.5
Ground access7.4
Reliability7.6
Lounges2.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare YLW with another airport

YLWGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours — CATSA opens 3:15 a.m.

Official FAQ and travel-tips cards: be at the terminal at least two hours before departure, domestic or international. Screening is printed 3:15 a.m. until the last departure.

Layout

One terminal — new west departures, not a second airport

One civil building. The January 2026 expansion added the west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint; Phase 1 remaining work runs through late 2026.

Food

Eat after CATSA unless you want Ellison or landside Tims

Live checks

Eight airlines; no lounge; Long-Term $17.50

Live official carriers are Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, and WestJet. Official pages have no club. Long-Term Lot is $17.50/day or $88/week.

Live conditions

Right now at YLW

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Okanagan and Interior travellers who would otherwise drive to YVR or YYC
WestJet, Air Canada, Porter, Alaska, or Flair connections from one building
Drivers who will use the $17.50 Long-Term Lot or the free Canco cell lot
NEXUS / CATSA Verified Travellers on a signed CT lane

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YLW.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official facts-and-statistics page: CY 2025 **2,315,432** passengers, an all-time high, vs 2024 **2,133,582** (+8.5%). Same table 2023 **2,032,624**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,409,123**. Official About card: Canada’s **9th** busiest airport and the largest municipally owned airport in Canada. Official About leftover **more than 80** daily non-stop commercial flights with **eight** airlines. Wikipedia leftover **36** commercial departures a day is leftover vs that card.

Full guide

Explore the YLW guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / UrideCheapest: BC Transit (Route 23 on the operator map)
View Getting There

YLWGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil terminal. Upper level departures / CATSA / gates; lower level arrivals / bags / CBSA for international and U.S. arrivals. No U.S. preclearance — Wikipedia leftover still calls YLW the busiest Canadian airport without it; official destinations still include Seattle.
New west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened 28 January 2026. Official projects: Phase 1 remaining renovations (~1,200 sq m in press leftover; official card does not reprint that number) through late 2026. Phase 2 2030 moves domestic arrivals south. Official program envelope ~$422 million for 2024–2033 from airport revenue and AIF, not tax dollars. Press leftover $108 million / PCL leftover 82,000 sq ft — do not mix with official 5,590 sq m (~60,000 sq ft) new space.

YLWGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours — CATSA opens 3:15 a.m.

Official FAQ and travel-tips cards: be at the terminal at least two hours before departure, domestic or international. Screening is printed 3:15 a.m. until the last departure.

Layout

One terminal — new west departures, not a second airport

One civil building. The January 2026 expansion added the west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint; Phase 1 remaining work runs through late 2026.

Food

Eat after CATSA unless you want Ellison or landside Tims

Live checks

Eight airlines; no lounge; Long-Term $17.50

Live official carriers are Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, and WestJet. Official pages have no club. Long-Term Lot is $17.50/day or $88/week.

Live conditions

Right now at YLW

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 02:15 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 09:15 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Okanagan and Interior travellers who would otherwise drive to YVR or YYC
WestJet, Air Canada, Porter, Alaska, or Flair connections from one building
Drivers who will use the $17.50 Long-Term Lot or the free Canco cell lot
NEXUS / CATSA Verified Travellers on a signed CT lane

Watch out for

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass YLW is fiction
Phase 1 remaining construction through late 2026; Sutton Place and the 1,000-stall parkade are not open
Official YLW pages do not print a route number; Wikipedia leftover “no evening bus” is leftover vs BC Transit Route 23
Live destinations table does not print LAX or LAS — confirm FIDS

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

2.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

2,315,432

Terminals

On-time departures

76%

Typical security

12 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YLW.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official facts-and-statistics page: CY 2025 **2,315,432** passengers, an all-time high, vs 2024 **2,133,582** (+8.5%). Same table 2023 **2,032,624**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,409,123**. Official About card: Canada’s **9th** busiest airport and the largest municipally owned airport in Canada. Official About leftover **more than 80** daily non-stop commercial flights with **eight** airlines. Wikipedia leftover **36** commercial departures a day is leftover vs that card.
Operator **City of Kelowna** since **1946**. Official leadership: CEO **Sam Samaddar** (**250-807-4301**); Director, Operations & Innovation **Phillip Elchitz** (**250-807-4304**); Director, Finance & Corporate Services **Shayne Dyrdal** (**250-807-4303**); Director, Commercial & Air Service Development **Tonja Molina** (**250-807-4362**); Director, Planning, Development & Infrastructure **William Lampard**. Search leftover still names **Geoff Ritchie** in the commercial chair — leftover vs the live Molina card. Mayor **Tom Dyas**. Live council cards: **Ron Cannan**, **Maxine DeHart**, **Charlie Hodge**, **Gord Lovegrove**, **Mohini Singh**, **Luke Stack**, **Rick Webber**, **Loyal Wooldridge**. Admin **1-5533 Airport Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1S1**. Switchboard **250-807-4300**. airport@kelowna.ca. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.** Fax **250-765-0213**. Media **ylwmedia@kelowna.ca** / **250-317-0579**. CFS leftover ops line **250-807-4350**. Historical Ellison Field / Dickson Ranch names are gone as passenger branding; IATA stays **YLW**. **Do not create CYLW as a second page.** **Do not merge YYJ, YXX, YYF, or YXC.** KF Cargo / Kelowna Flightcraft is a campus tenant — this is not a cargo-only page.
One civil terminal. Official CATSA screening **3:15 a.m. until the last departure**. Official travel-tips / FAQ clock **at least two hours**. Most counters open **two hours prior** — confirm the airline. Overnight stays are **not permitted** when flights are not operating. New departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened **28 January 2026** (official / Capital News). Official projects: Phase 1 remaining work through **late 2026**; Phase 2 **2030**. Official FAQ Airport Improvement Fee **$25** on each departing (non-connecting) ticket. **No passenger lounge.** Empty `lounges: []`. **Do not seed a placeholder lounge row.**
Live official destinations table (13 Sep 2026), **21** printed routes, **eight** names: **Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, WestJet**. **Do not invent United as live.** Live table does **not** print Los Angeles or Las Vegas — Wikipedia / older official leftover still named Alaska **LAX*** and WestJet **LAS***. Confirm FIDS. Whitehorse is printed as Air North **same-plane via YVR**, not a true nonstop. **No U.S. preclearance.**
`lib/airports.json`: IATA **YLW**, ICAO **CYLW**, 49.956514, −119.378364, America/Vancouver. Official About elev **1,421 ft (433 m)** / runway **8,900 ft (2,713 m)**. CFS leftover (9 Jul 2026 plate): elev **1,420 ft**, 6.2 nm NE, RWY **16/34 9,039×200** asphalt, THLD 16 displ **1,200 ft**, THLD 34 displ **539 ft**, CUST AOE/215 **888-226-7277**, OPR City of Kelowna. Wikipedia leftover timezone **MST** is wrong — Pacific. Wikipedia leftover Owner **Transport Canada** vs official **municipally owned / City of Kelowna**. Origin campus **320 acres** (1946 Dickson Ranch). Official history leftover still prints the **1998** terminal as **76,000 sq ft** — pre-2026 expansion.

19 official sources

Full guide

Explore the YLW guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

YLWGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil terminal. Upper level departures / CATSA / gates; lower level arrivals / bags / CBSA for international and U.S. arrivals. No U.S. preclearance — Wikipedia leftover still calls YLW the busiest Canadian airport without it; official destinations still include Seattle.
New west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened 28 January 2026. Official projects: Phase 1 remaining renovations (~1,200 sq m in press leftover; official card does not reprint that number) through late 2026. Phase 2 2030 moves domestic arrivals south. Official program envelope ~$422 million for 2024–2033 from airport revenue and AIF, not tax dollars. Press leftover $108 million / PCL leftover 82,000 sq ft — do not mix with official 5,590 sq m (~60,000 sq ft) new space.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official parking (live card): Short-term $2.25 / first hour, $3.50 extra, $27/day; Long-term $2.25 / $3.50, $17.50/day, $88/week; Valet $29.25 on long-term rates; Gold Pass $1,290 / six months as of 2 January 2026. Lots 24/7. Cash at the short-term booth 5:30 a.m. until 30 minutes after the last flight. Parking 250-765-5612. FAQ leftover $28.75 / $17.25 / $86 is leftover.
Cell lot is free beside Canco at Airport Plaza; four EV chargers there. Official short-term leftover still says Esso. No free 15-minute short-term.
Official ride-hail: Uber and Uride, pickup at the north end of the terminal outside Arrivals. Official $2 fee on any airport ride-hail or taxi trip longer than 3 km (limousines exempt). Prince of Travel leftover Lyft is not on the official transport page. Official taxis: Apple Cabs 250-451-9560, Associate / Kelowna Eco Taxi 250-860-6666, Checkmate 250-861-1111, Comfort 250-215-7999, Current Taxi 250-864-8294, Kelowna Cabs 250-762-2222, West Cabs 778-754-8888, Okanagan Limousine 250-717-5466. Official pages do not print a downtown tariff. Prince of Travel leftover $27–$36 is leftover.
Official rentals: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz. Pickup / drop at the south end of the Short-Term lot. No Sixt. Prince of Travel leftover National / Thrifty is not on the official transport page. Book ahead.
Official transit: check Kelowna Regional Transit. Official stop on Airport Way near long-term lot B, plus stops west of Highway 97 by Four Points. Official YLW page does not print a route number. BC Transit Route 23 map names Kelowna Airport; adult single ride $3 (Route 90 $5; DayPASS $6; kids 12 and under free) effective the 1 Oct 2025 fare card. Wikipedia leftover “no evenings or weekends” — confirm the timetable.
Official Ebus stop at meeting area #7 near the south terminal entrance; book ahead 1-877-769-3287. Ticket kiosk leftover moved downtown to 516 Lawrence Ave. Named ski/wine shuttles are on the official transport page (Big White, Cheers, Signature, Kelowna Transfers, and others) — book those, do not treat them as a city bus.
Official About leftover: about 10 minutes northeast of Kelowna on Highway 97. Wikipedia leftover 6.2 nm / 11.5 km / 7.1 mi. Prince of Travel leftover 14 km / 15–20 minutes to downtown — official pages do not print a downtown minute card.
No rail. Four Points hotel shuttle 250-807-2000. Sutton Place / 1,000-stall parkade are not open (parkade 2027, hotel 2028).

Long-Term Lot

Official $17.50/day or $88/week Long-Term Lot. Short-term is $27/day. Valet adds $29.25 to long-term rates.

Time to city

Walk or on-request shuttle to the curb, then your drive — official pages do not print a downtown minute card

Cost

$17.50/day or $88/week

Tip: Courtesy shuttle is on request at 250-765-5612, not a standing loop. Cell lot is free beside Canco at Airport Plaza. FAQ leftover $17.25 / $86 is leftover.

FastestBest for luggage

Uber / Uride

Official ride-hail: Uber and Uride from the north end of the terminal outside Arrivals. Official $2 fee on trips longer than 3 km.

Time to city

Confirm the app — official About leftover is about ten minutes northeast of Kelowna on Highway 97

Cost

app quote + $2 over 3 km

Tip: Lyft is not on the official transport page. Do not sit unattended on the curb — use the Canco cell lot.

Cheapest

BC Transit (Route 23 on the operator map)

Official YLW transport page does not print a route number. BC Transit Route 23 map names Kelowna Airport. Adult single ride $3; Route 90 is $5.

Time to city

Confirm BC Transit — official stop is Airport Way near long-term lot B, then a transfer at UBCO for downtown

Cost

$3 single ($5 on Route 90)

Tip: Wikipedia leftover “no evenings or weekends” is leftover vs the operator map. Official Ebus is a booked coach at meeting area #7, not the city bus.

Printed taxis / Okanagan Limousine

Official curb taxis with local numbers. Official $2 fee on taxi trips longer than 3 km; limousines exempt. No official downtown tariff.

Time to city

Confirm when you book — official pages do not print a downtown minute card

Cost

meter / quote + $2 over 3 km

Tip: Wheelchair-accessible vehicles need advance notice. Prince of Travel leftover $27–$36 downtown is leftover.

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 02:15 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 09:15 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

YLWGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil terminal. Upper level departures / CATSA / gates; lower level arrivals / bags / CBSA for international and U.S. arrivals. No U.S. preclearance — Wikipedia leftover still calls YLW the busiest Canadian airport without it; official destinations still include Seattle.
New west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened 28 January 2026. Official projects: Phase 1 remaining renovations (~1,200 sq m in press leftover; official card does not reprint that number) through late 2026. Phase 2 2030 moves domestic arrivals south. Official program envelope ~$422 million for 2024–2033 from airport revenue and AIF, not tax dollars. Press leftover $108 million / PCL leftover 82,000 sq ft — do not mix with official 5,590 sq m (~60,000 sq ft) new space.

YLWGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 2 hours — CATSA opens 3:15 a.m.

Official FAQ and travel-tips cards: be at the terminal at least two hours before departure, domestic or international. Screening is printed 3:15 a.m. until the last departure.

Layout

One terminal — new west departures, not a second airport

One civil building. The January 2026 expansion added the west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint; Phase 1 remaining work runs through late 2026.

Food

Eat after CATSA unless you want Ellison or landside Tims

Live checks

Eight airlines; no lounge; Long-Term $17.50

Live official carriers are Air Canada, Air North, Alaska, Central Mountain Air, Flair, Pacific Coastal, Porter, and WestJet. Official pages have no club. Long-Term Lot is $17.50/day or $88/week.

Live conditions

Right now at YLW

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 02:15 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 09:15 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Okanagan and Interior travellers who would otherwise drive to YVR or YYC
WestJet, Air Canada, Porter, Alaska, or Flair connections from one building
Drivers who will use the $17.50 Long-Term Lot or the free Canco cell lot
NEXUS / CATSA Verified Travellers on a signed CT lane

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

8.3

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.5

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.4

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YLW.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official facts-and-statistics page: CY 2025 **2,315,432** passengers, an all-time high, vs 2024 **2,133,582** (+8.5%). Same table 2023 **2,032,624**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,409,123**. Official About card: Canada’s **9th** busiest airport and the largest municipally owned airport in Canada. Official About leftover **more than 80** daily non-stop commercial flights with **eight** airlines. Wikipedia leftover **36** commercial departures a day is leftover vs that card.

Full guide

Explore the YLW guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Uber / UrideCheapest: BC Transit (Route 23 on the operator map)
View Getting There

YLWGuide

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One civil terminal. Upper level departures / CATSA / gates; lower level arrivals / bags / CBSA for international and U.S. arrivals. No U.S. preclearance — Wikipedia leftover still calls YLW the busiest Canadian airport without it; official destinations still include Seattle.
New west departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened 28 January 2026. Official projects: Phase 1 remaining renovations (~1,200 sq m in press leftover; official card does not reprint that number) through late 2026. Phase 2 2030 moves domestic arrivals south. Official program envelope ~$422 million for 2024–2033 from airport revenue and AIF, not tax dollars. Press leftover $108 million / PCL leftover 82,000 sq ft — do not mix with official 5,590 sq m (~60,000 sq ft) new space.

Operator **City of Kelowna** since **1946**. Official leadership: CEO **Sam Samaddar** (**250-807-4301**); Director, Operations & Innovation **Phillip Elchitz** (**250-807-4304**); Director, Finance & Corporate Services **Shayne Dyrdal** (**250-807-4303**); Director, Commercial & Air Service Development **Tonja Molina** (**250-807-4362**); Director, Planning, Development & Infrastructure **William Lampard**. Search leftover still names **Geoff Ritchie** in the commercial chair — leftover vs the live Molina card. Mayor **Tom Dyas**. Live council cards: **Ron Cannan**, **Maxine DeHart**, **Charlie Hodge**, **Gord Lovegrove**, **Mohini Singh**, **Luke Stack**, **Rick Webber**, **Loyal Wooldridge**. Admin **1-5533 Airport Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1S1**. Switchboard **250-807-4300**. airport@kelowna.ca. Admin **Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.** Fax **250-765-0213**. Media **ylwmedia@kelowna.ca** / **250-317-0579**. CFS leftover ops line **250-807-4350**. Historical Ellison Field / Dickson Ranch names are gone as passenger branding; IATA stays **YLW**. **Do not create CYLW as a second page.** **Do not merge YYJ, YXX, YYF, or YXC.** KF Cargo / Kelowna Flightcraft is a campus tenant — this is not a cargo-only page.

One civil terminal. Official CATSA screening **3:15 a.m. until the last departure**. Official travel-tips / FAQ clock **at least two hours**. Most counters open **two hours prior** — confirm the airline. Overnight stays are **not permitted** when flights are not operating. New departures lounge and CATSA CT checkpoint opened **28 January 2026** (official / Capital News). Official projects: Phase 1 remaining work through **late 2026**; Phase 2 **2030**. Official FAQ Airport Improvement Fee **$25** on each departing (non-connecting) ticket. **No passenger lounge.** Empty `lounges: []`. **Do not seed a placeholder lounge row.**

`lib/airports.json`: IATA **YLW**, ICAO **CYLW**, 49.956514, −119.378364, America/Vancouver. Official About elev **1,421 ft (433 m)** / runway **8,900 ft (2,713 m)**. CFS leftover (9 Jul 2026 plate): elev **1,420 ft**, 6.2 nm NE, RWY **16/34 9,039×200** asphalt, THLD 16 displ **1,200 ft**, THLD 34 displ **539 ft**, CUST AOE/215 **888-226-7277**, OPR City of Kelowna. Wikipedia leftover timezone **MST** is wrong — Pacific. Wikipedia leftover Owner **Transport Canada** vs official **municipally owned / City of Kelowna**. Origin campus **320 acres** (1946 Dickson Ranch). Official history leftover still prints the **1998** terminal as **76,000 sq ft** — pre-2026 expansion.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Official parking (live card): Short-term $2.25 / first hour, $3.50 extra, $27/day; Long-term $2.25 / $3.50, $17.50/day, $88/week; Valet $29.25 on long-term rates; Gold Pass $1,290 / six months as of 2 January 2026. Lots 24/7. Cash at the short-term booth 5:30 a.m. until 30 minutes after the last flight. Parking 250-765-5612. FAQ leftover $28.75 / $17.25 / $86 is leftover.
Cell lot is free beside Canco at Airport Plaza; four EV chargers there. Official short-term leftover still says Esso. No free 15-minute short-term.
Official ride-hail: Uber and Uride, pickup at the north end of the terminal outside Arrivals. Official $2 fee on any airport ride-hail or taxi trip longer than 3 km (limousines exempt). Prince of Travel leftover Lyft is not on the official transport page. Official taxis: Apple Cabs 250-451-9560, Associate / Kelowna Eco Taxi 250-860-6666, Checkmate 250-861-1111, Comfort 250-215-7999, Current Taxi 250-864-8294, Kelowna Cabs 250-762-2222, West Cabs 778-754-8888, Okanagan Limousine 250-717-5466. Official pages do not print a downtown tariff. Prince of Travel leftover $27–$36 is leftover.
Official rentals: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz. Pickup / drop at the south end of the Short-Term lot. No Sixt. Prince of Travel leftover National / Thrifty is not on the official transport page. Book ahead.
Official transit: check Kelowna Regional Transit. Official stop on Airport Way near long-term lot B, plus stops west of Highway 97 by Four Points. Official YLW page does not print a route number. BC Transit Route 23 map names Kelowna Airport; adult single ride $3 (Route 90 $5; DayPASS $6; kids 12 and under free) effective the 1 Oct 2025 fare card. Wikipedia leftover “no evenings or weekends” — confirm the timetable.
Official Ebus stop at meeting area #7 near the south terminal entrance; book ahead 1-877-769-3287. Ticket kiosk leftover moved downtown to 516 Lawrence Ave. Named ski/wine shuttles are on the official transport page (Big White, Cheers, Signature, Kelowna Transfers, and others) — book those, do not treat them as a city bus.
Official About leftover: about 10 minutes northeast of Kelowna on Highway 97. Wikipedia leftover 6.2 nm / 11.5 km / 7.1 mi. Prince of Travel leftover 14 km / 15–20 minutes to downtown — official pages do not print a downtown minute card.
No rail. Four Points hotel shuttle 250-807-2000. Sutton Place / 1,000-stall parkade are not open (parkade 2027, hotel 2028).

Long-Term Lot

Official $17.50/day or $88/week Long-Term Lot. Short-term is $27/day. Valet adds $29.25 to long-term rates.

Time to city

Walk or on-request shuttle to the curb, then your drive — official pages do not print a downtown minute card

Cost

$17.50/day or $88/week

Tip: Courtesy shuttle is on request at 250-765-5612, not a standing loop. Cell lot is free beside Canco at Airport Plaza. FAQ leftover $17.25 / $86 is leftover.

FastestBest for luggage

Uber / Uride

Official ride-hail: Uber and Uride from the north end of the terminal outside Arrivals. Official $2 fee on trips longer than 3 km.

Time to city

Confirm the app — official About leftover is about ten minutes northeast of Kelowna on Highway 97

Cost

app quote + $2 over 3 km

Tip: Lyft is not on the official transport page. Do not sit unattended on the curb — use the Canco cell lot.

Cheapest

BC Transit (Route 23 on the operator map)

Official YLW transport page does not print a route number. BC Transit Route 23 map names Kelowna Airport. Adult single ride $3; Route 90 is $5.

Time to city

Confirm BC Transit — official stop is Airport Way near long-term lot B, then a transfer at UBCO for downtown

Cost

$3 single ($5 on Route 90)

Tip: Wikipedia leftover “no evenings or weekends” is leftover vs the operator map. Official Ebus is a booked coach at meeting area #7, not the city bus.

Printed taxis / Okanagan Limousine

Official curb taxis with local numbers. Official $2 fee on taxi trips longer than 3 km; limousines exempt. No official downtown tariff.

Time to city

Confirm when you book — official pages do not print a downtown minute card

Cost

meter / quote + $2 over 3 km

Tip: Wheelchair-accessible vehicles need advance notice. Prince of Travel leftover $27–$36 downtown is leftover.

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Normal operations

No Flighty-reported operational issues for this airport.

Status update: 02:15 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 09:15 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Know before you go

Right now at YLW

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Why this score

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