Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is preparing to celebrate yet another banner year, after the Vancouver Airport Authority announced it expected some 22 million passengers to pass through Canada’s second busiest airport by the end of 2016.
The total represents an increase of nearly two million passengers compared to 2015.
Top 20 Photos of 2016: https://t.co/kjePlteKzW pic.twitter.com/nz2mAgp04x
— Vancouver Airport (@yvrairport) December 29, 2016
YVR welcomed over 18.8 million passengers from January to October, a year-over-year growth rate of 9.5 per cent, with a predicted total of some 22 million total passengers by year’s end.
During the busy holiday season, beginning on Dec. 19 and ending on Dec. 31, around 70,000 passengers are expected daily.
The news of YVR smashing records comes on the heels of receiving the prestigious Airport of the Year Award from the CAPA Centre for Aviation in October. The award is “given to the airport which has been a strategic leader globally and done the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry globally,” according to the centre’s website.
YVR President and CEO Craig Richmond attributed the new record to the airport’s ties with Air Canada.
“I’d like to thank Air Canada for their commitment to growing their transpacific hub out of YVR,” Richmond said in a press release on the YVR website.
Air Canada carries approximately 50 per cent of passengers at YVR and serves more than 55 destinations around the world.
Were you one of the #YVR22Million passengers in 2016? Tweet us about your travels using #YVR22Million & enter to win 500 YVR Bucks! pic.twitter.com/NkeQKJq0yQ
— Vancouver Airport (@yvrairport) December 31, 2016
While a total of 22 million passengers is far outside the top 50 world wide, and a fair distance behind Toronto’s Pearson International Airport’s (YYZ) more than 40 million annual passengers, the record is an indication of growth for the city and lower mainland.
YVR is expected to welcome some 25 million passengers annually by 2020, according to media relations representative Terry Chou.
