YYJCYYJMinor

Victoria International Airport

Victoria, Canada · North America

Canada’s eleventh-busiest airport in one civil hall — NEXUS front-of-the-line, Spinnakers after CATSA, and $18 Long Term 2 parking, traded against no lounge, no rail, and a 25 km drive from downtown Victoria.

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.6

All airports Official site

YYJCYYJMinor

Victoria International Airport

Victoria, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.6
Ground access7.2

Arrive
75 min
before international flights
Typical security
12 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
Confirm the app — official About leftover is about 25 kilometres north of Victoria through Sidney
Uber

All airports

YYJCYYJMinor14°C / 57°F

Victoria International Airport

Victoria, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.6

7 photos

Low brick passenger terminal and control tower at Victoria International Airport under a blue sky, with parked cars in the foreground.

Landside check-in hall at Victoria International Airport with ticket counters, departure boards, and passengers in the queue.

Airside holdroom seating at Victoria International Airport with large windows looking onto the apron.

Airside corridor at Victoria International Airport with seating along the windows and retail ahead.

Spinnakers On the Fly airside café seating at Victoria International Airport before later renovations.

WestJet Boeing 737-800 C-GJLS on the apron at Victoria International Airport in July 2019.

Aerial approach to runway 09 at Victoria International Airport over Patricia Bay and the Saanich Peninsula.

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

FAQ leftover still says 04:00 a.m. Overnight stays are not permitted. Holiday-tips leftover also prints 2+ hours in season and 75 minutes before departure for CATSA. CATSA’s YYJ wait tile exists (checkpoint PBS) and printed 10–15 min on one 13 Sep 2026 fetch and Not available on another — averageSecurityMinutes 12 is editorial unpublished.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Landside Tim Hortons 5:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. and Fickle Fig Farm Market weekdays 5:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. / weekends 6:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Holiday-tips leftover still clocks Spinnakers and Fresh Cup 05:00–20:00 and Harbour Walk until midnight — leftover vs the live shops cards.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor. Long Term 1 has been $20/day with no long-stay discount since 2 July 2026. Short-term is $4 for two hours. Official ride-hail is Uber only.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

Alternatives

Nearby airports

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

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.

All airports Official site

YYJCYYJMinor14°C / 57°F

Victoria International Airport

Victoria, Canada · North America

Airportist Score

7.2/ 10

Solid

Ease of use8.5
Comfort & amenities7.6
Food & retail7.6
Ground access7.2

Arrive
75 min
before international flights
Typical security
12 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
Confirm the app — official About leftover is about 25 kilometres north of Victoria through Sidney
Uber

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.

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass / Escape YYJ is fiction
No U.S. preclearance and no CATSA CT lane — laptops and LAGs still come out
Live destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor — confirm FIDS
FAQ leftover still says doors 04:00; the live At-YYJ hours card is 03:00–01:00 and overnight stays are not permitted

Operator **Victoria Airport Authority** (not-for-profit, financially independent) since **1 April 1997**. Transport Canada still owns the land — Wikipedia leftover “Owner Transport Canada” is the lease, not the operator. Live President & CEO **Elizabeth M. Brown** (effective **18 September 2023**). Live executive leftover from the 2025 annual report: VP Revenue Strategy **Lindsay Gaunt**; VP Finance / CFO **Randy Bogle**; VP Human Resources and Indigenous Affairs **Michelle McInnis**; VP Planning and Infrastructure **Marc Turpin**; VP Operations **René Sheïr**. Live board Chair **Dave Cowen** (District of North Saanich); Vice-Chair **Kelly Bull-Tomer** (Town of Sidney). Other live cards: **Carol Brown**, **Erik Djukastein**, **Paul Gerrard**, **Allan Haynes**, **Catherine Holt**, **Patrick Kelly**, **Margaret Lucas**, **Paul Murray**, **Simon Philp**, **Sami Turki**, **Wendy Zink**. Admin **201-1640 Electra Blvd, Sidney, BC V8L 5V4**. Switchboard **250-953-7500**. Fax **250-953-7509**. Admin **8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.** Security Operations Centre **250-953-7511** (24/7). Airside ops **250-953-7536**. Media **Erin Brocklebank** / **media@yyj.ca** / **250-953-7514**. Accessibility **Accessibility@yyj.ca**. Historical Patricia Bay / RCAF Station Patricia Bay / “Pat Bay Airport” names are gone as passenger branding; IATA stays **YYJ**. **Do not create CYYJ as a second page.** **Do not merge YVR, YWH, YXX, or YLW.** 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron / Arundel Castle is a campus tenant — this is not an airbase page.

One civil terminal in North Saanich, official About **approximately 25 kilometres** north of Victoria. Official At-YYJ hours card: doors **03:00–01:00**; FAQ leftover **04:00 a.m.–01:00 a.m.** is leftover. Overnight stays are **not permitted**. Official FAQ clock **1.5 to 2 hours** domestic / **2 hours** transborder and international. Holiday-tips leftover **2+ hours** in season and **75 minutes** before departure for CATSA. **No passenger lounge.** Empty `lounges: []`. **Do not seed a placeholder lounge row.** **No U.S. preclearance.** Official AIF (fee schedule / 2024 press) **$25** on each eligible departing inter-provincial, transborder, or international ticket — intra-BC hops are not on that sentence; confirm the airline.

Live official destinations table (13 Sep 2026), nine airline cards and the printed route table: **Air Canada / Rouge, Air Canada Express, Air North, Alaska / Horizon, Flair, Harbour Air, Pacific Coastal, Porter, WestJet**. Printed dests: Air Canada **YVR 7–8× daily** / **YYZ 1–2× daily**; WestJet **YVR 3–4×** / **YLW 1×** / **YYC 4–5×** / **YEG 1–3×** plus seasonal winter **CUN 2× weekly** / **PVR 3×** / **SJD 1×**; Porter **YYZ 1× daily**; Harbour Air seasonal winter **YVR South Terminal 2–3× daily**; Pacific Coastal **YVR 1–3×** / **YXS 1×** / **YLW 1–2×** / **YKA 6× weekly (no Saturday)**; Air North **YVR / YXY 6× weekly**; Alaska **SEA 4–5× daily** (American codeshare). Flair is printed **seasonal – summer operations** with a **blank dest cell**. 2025 annual-report leftover still names **Kenmore Air** as a ninth 2025 carrier — **not** on the live table. Wikipedia leftover **YUL, YOW, YWG, Friday Harbor** is leftover. **Do not invent United, Delta, or a live Kenmore row.**

`lib/airports.json`: IATA **YYJ**, ICAO **CYYJ**, 48.647501, −123.427331, America/Vancouver. Wikipedia leftover timezone **MST** is wrong — Pacific. Wikipedia / AirNav elev **64 ft (20 m)**, **12 nm / 12 miles** NNW of Victoria. Wikipedia / AirNav runways **09/27 6,998×200**, **03/21 5,027 / 5,026×200**, **14/32 5,001×200**. Wikipedia leftover **11 gates** (3–4 and 12–13 jet bridges; 5–11 ground floor) matches the holiday-tips gate card. Official About leftover **nearly two million** passengers each year vs the 2025 PDF **1,986,057**.

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass / Escape YYJ is fiction
No U.S. preclearance and no CATSA CT lane — laptops and LAGs still come out
Live destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor — confirm FIDS
FAQ leftover still says doors 04:00; the live At-YYJ hours card is 03:00–01:00 and overnight stays are not permitted

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

YYJGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

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

Timing

1.5–2 hours domestic — doors 03:00, no overnight

Official FAQ clock is 1.5 to 2 hours domestic and 2 hours for transborder or international. The live At-YYJ hours card prints doors 03:00–01:00.

Layout

One hall in Sidney — not YWH and not YVR

One civil building. Ground-floor gates 5–11; jet-bridge gates 3–4 and 12–13 upstairs past Harbour Walk.

IATA is YYJ. Do not look for CYYJ, YWH (Inner Harbour seaplanes), YVR, or a 443 Squadron hall. Official pages do not print a live gate-to-airline map — read FIDS. No U.S. preclearance.

Food

Eat after CATSA at Spinnakers unless you want Fickle Fig

Live official dining page — airside Spinnakers On the Fly 4:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. or after the last departure; Fresh Cup at Gate 5 is a shorter coffee/bar window.

Live checks

Nine printed airline cards; no lounge; Long Term 2 is $18 / $9

Live official carriers are the nine names on the airlines page. Official pages have no club. Long Term 2 stays $18 for each of the first five days, then $9.

Live conditions

Right now at YYJ

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Vancouver Island travellers who would otherwise ferry or fly via YVR
Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Alaska, or Pacific Coastal connections from one building
Drivers who will use Long Term 2 at $18 / $9 or the $4 Short Term cell lot
NEXUS holders on CATSA’s Front-of-the-line Verified Traveller list

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.

8.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

7.6

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

7.6

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

7.2

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

7.6

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for YYJ.

Updated Sep 13, 2026

Official passenger-statistics PDF: CY 2025 **1,986,057** vs 2024 **1,872,033**. The same PDF’s total-row leftover prints **6.2%**; 1,986,057 ÷ 1,872,033 is **6.09%**. Official 2025 Annual Report rounds the year as **approximately 1.99 million**, **6.1%** over 2024, busiest year since 2018, Canada’s **11th** busiest and **third** in British Columbia. Wikipedia reprints **1,986,057 / +6.1%** and leftover **10th** busiest — leftover vs the official About / annual-report **11th**. Same PDF 2023 **1,742,350**. Official 2026 monthly cells through July add to **1,128,578** (+2.4% vs the same window). August 2025 **227,613** is the printed record month (annual-report leftover “more than 227,000”).

Full guide

Explore the YYJ guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Getting There
4 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: UberCheapest: BC Transit (70 / 72 / 87 / 88)
View Getting There

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass / Escape YYJ is fiction
No U.S. preclearance and no CATSA CT lane — laptops and LAGs still come out
Live destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor — confirm FIDS
FAQ leftover still says doors 04:00; the live At-YYJ hours card is 03:00–01:00 and overnight stays are not permitted

Lounges

No passenger lounge. Official dining, shopping, FAQ, At-YYJ and amenities cards have no club. Live Priority Pass / Escape US lists do not include YYJ. Aggregator “The Club YYJ / Escape YYJ / Maple Leaf YYJ / Priority Pass Gate 5” is fiction. Empty lounges: []. Do not seed a placeholder lounge row. FBO rooms (Shell Aerocentre / VIH) are not ticketed-pax clubs.

No passenger lounge — aggregator Maple Leaf / Plaza Premium / Priority Pass / Escape YYJ is fiction
No U.S. preclearance and no CATSA CT lane — laptops and LAGs still come out
Live destinations table does not print Ottawa, Montréal, Winnipeg, or Friday Harbor — confirm FIDS
FAQ leftover still says doors 04:00; the live At-YYJ hours card is 03:00–01:00 and overnight stays are not permitted

Lounges

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

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: 01:28 PDT

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 14, 08:34 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Know before you go

Right now at YYJ

Who this airport works for

Why this score

Explore the YYJ guide

Getting There

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