Victoria Intl Airport (YYJ) Flights & Flight Status

Victoria International Airport usually hovers just outside the top 10 busiest airports in Canada. However, the airport’s overall ambience is as relaxing and inviting as the lush, green corner of Canada it serves. There is no bridge linking the North American mainland with Vancouver Island, which makes the British Columbia provincial capital’s airport an indispensable transportation hub.

Born and raised in Victoria, I have enjoyed watching YYJ grow in both size and amenities over the years without sacrificing its fundamentally friendly and easy-to-navigate character.

The best ways to get to and from Victoria International Airport

It takes a little planning to get to Victoria International Airport, which is located a 30-minute drive north of downtown. The airport is close to both the seaside town of Sidney and the British Columbia Ferries (BC Ferries) terminal at Swartz Bay.

Multiple taxi companies serve YYJ, including Yellow Cab, Bluebird Cabs, and Sidney Taxi, and curbside and pre-booked taxi pick-ups are available. Victoria, a slower-paced and more traditional community, finally got the ride-hailing app Uber in 2023.

If you’re not driving or getting a lift, the other choice is BC Transit’s public bus system. When heading to the Victoria airport, I recommend boarding a #70 Swartz Bay express bus next to the Parliament Buildings on Government Street to ensure you get a seat and have room to stow your bags. At the McTavish Interchange, you can then transfer to a #88 Airport bus. Follow this procedure in reverse if you’re travelling from YYJ to downtown.

Keep in mind that BC Transit buses do not currently accept credit cards or offer transfers. When I visit Victoria from Vancouver, I always make sure I have cash on me ($1 or $2 Canadian coins and quarters, or $5 bills). For airport travel, the easiest solution is to either buy a DayPass or use BC Transit’s Umo mobile app or reloadable card.

The four-lane Highway 17 (Patricia Bay Highway) can bog down with morning and afternoon rush hour traffic or accidents, so I always advise budgeting some extra time for your journey.

Finding your way around the Victoria airport

Victoria International Airport couldn’t be much easier to navigate. When you come through the main entrance, you’ll see the check-in counters for Air Canada, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Airlines, WestJet, Porter Airlines, Air North, and Pacific Coastal Airlines. The airport is also served by Flair Airlines and Kenmore Air.

To the left of the departures area, you’ll find food outlets and a gift shop, right by security screening. Further left, the central welcome hall for arriving passengers awaits. (I’m fond of this circular space laden with plants: your departing friends and loved ones can go to an upper-level window overlooking the atrium and give you one more wave goodbye post-security.)

Straight ahead is the information booth, across from the car rental agencies. The domestic baggage carousels are at the far end, with beautiful carved Indigenous salmon motifs on the adjacent wall.

Quieter times are usually mid-morning, mid-afternoon, or late evening.

Destinations that Victoria International Airport serves

YYJ has direct service to a wide variety of North American destinations. For trips further afield, people in Victoria generally head over to Vancouver International Airport.

You can also fly from Victoria to other British Columbia cities like Kamloops, Kelowna, and Prince George, as well as up north to Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. Major Western Canadian destinations include Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. YYJ also has direct service to Montreal and Toronto.

I grew up with many long, rainy winters in Victoria, so I appreciate the ability to get away to several sunny spots via YYJ. There is seasonal service to Las Vegas, as well as Mexican resort cities such as Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos.

How to handle YYJ’s security lineups

Usually, security lineups are a breeze at Victoria International Airport. Wait times appear on a sign next to the gift shop and can also be checked on the YYJ web site. In my experience, closer to five minutes than 15 minutes is a pretty typical wait.

There is a NEXUS and Trusted Traveller lineup, but no expedited screening. If you’re travelling to the U.S., bear in mind that, unlike Vancouver, YYJ doesn’t have a preclearance facility, so you’ll need to clear passport control in the U.S. if you’re taking a direct flight.

Parking at Victoria International Airport

There is short-term parking (flat fee) in front of the terminal and ample long-term parking (per half-hour or per day). In the latter category, Lot 2 (off to the west) fills up less quickly than Lot 1 (just beyond the short-term parking). A reservations system is slated for 2025.

For electric vehicle drivers, there are two EV charging stations in the short-term lot and more than 20 EV charging stations in the long-term lots.

Car rentals at YYJ

All the major car rental brands are represented, including Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty. It’s also easy to find the rental car parking, directly to the right of the terminal.

With that said, Victoria is perennially rated one of North America’s most walkable cities. Depending on your age, mobility, and other factors, you may find it viable to navigate the compact downtown core around the Inner Harbour with some combination of transit, taxis, and your own two feet.

Food and drink at the Victoria airport

For a smaller airport, Victoria frankly has a strong selection of food and drink options, with representation from local producers.

Before security, check out the Fickle Fig coffee shop. You can fuel up on a 2% Jazz cappuccino and a big cinnamon roll or almond croissant or enjoy a rotating selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches for lunch. Nearby is Tim Hortons for your classic Canadian doughnut needs.

Post-security, I recommend Spinnakers on the Fly. This is the airport outpost of Canada’s oldest brewpub, founded in 1984 on the Vic West waterfront. It boasts a strong gastro element. Classic beers like Nut Brown Ale or Departure Pils pair well with ale-battered cod and chips or BC cheese flatbread. There are also grab-and-go options. Meanwhile, if you’re craving artisan coffee, Fresh Cup at YYJ is just a few steps away.

Shopping choices at Victoria International Airport

Local products abound in YYJ’s gift shops, with a similar selection in both the Breakwater Boutique (pre-security) and Harbour Walk Gift Shop (post-security).

Chocolate fans like myself gravitate toward Rogers’ Chocolates, which offers Canadian art-themed boxes. The 1885-founded candymaker’s wares include Victoria Creams, Sea Salt Empress Squares, and ice cream bars. You can also buy Victoria-flavoured hoodies and T-shirts with artistic and sustainable flair by Lago or Kindred Spirit.

At the Victoria Distillers shop, sample the Empress 1908 gin, which has gained an international vogue. Flavours range from cucumber lemon to elderflower rose.

Things to do during a layover

If you have some extra time, options abound near the Victoria airport. On the YYJ grounds, check out the BC Aviation Museum, which showcases vintage planes from the Hawaii Mars water bomber to the Eastman Sea Rover.

It’s a 20-minute drive to Butchart Gardens, Victoria’s most iconic attraction, and I’ve always loved touring the Rose Garden and rubbing the snout of the bronze wild boar statue. Also nearby is the Victoria Butterfly Gardens, whose jungle-style indoor facility features turtles, frogs, and flamingos as well.

For longer layovers, catch up on downtown Victoria sights. Around the Inner Harbour, you can photograph the Fairmont Empress Hotel and Parliament Buildings, explore Canada’s oldest Chinatown, and roam through close to 180 acres of flowers and gardens in Beacon Hill Park.

Artwork at the Victoria airport

British Columbia is famous for artists like Emily Carr and Robert Bateman, and YYJ reflects that artistic bent. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s Art at the Airport project covers the walls with nature paintings with titles like Icebreaker and Pacific Meditation.

Outside the terminal, don’t miss the three Coast Salish welcome poles made by master carver Charles W. Elliott.

Alternative flying options for Victoria

Besides YYJ, the nearest land-based airports are Vancouver, on the mainland, and Nanaimo, a two-hour drive up Vancouver Island. However, there are two alternative options close to downtown Victoria.

Harbour Air provides float-plane service from the Victoria Harbour Airport (YWH). It serves Vancouver, Seattle, Victoria, Whistler, Tofino, and other coastal locations. Helijet offers helicopter rides from the Victoria Harbour Heliport to Victoria and Nanaimo. Both options offer fantastic views of the Salish Sea, but I am a fan of Helijet’s larger basic baggage allowance.