YVR Recognized as Best Airport in the World

Today, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) received CAPA Centre for Aviation’s prestigious Airport of the Year Award at the Aviation Awards for Excellence, hosted in Amsterdam. This award is given to the airport that has been a strategic leader and has done the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry globally.

“This is an incredible achievement and is a testament to YVR’s success and our growing influence on the world stage,” said Craig Richmond, YVR’s President and CEO. “We have achieved this milestone thanks to our focus on safety, teamwork, accountability and innovation—and our community based, not-for-profit governance model, under which we constantly improve the airport for our passengers, our partners and our communities.”

“YVR being recognized as global airport of the year shows the strength of the Canadian airport system, which enables innovation and the pursuit of excellence in sustainability, governance and overall airport operations,” said Mary Jordan, Chair of YVR’s Board of Directors. “I'm so proud of the team that achieved this honour.”    

CAPA Centre for Aviation is the leading provider of independent aviation market intelligence, analysis and data services. Candidates for the Aviation Awards for Excellence are shortlisted by the CAPA team of analysts and aviation partners, and then reviewed by an esteemed panel of judges. The Airport of the Year award has previously been conferred upon major global hubs with a strong international reputation of excellence, including Singapore Changi Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Beijing Capital International Airport. YVR is the first airport in North America to receive this prestigious award.

YVR has been recognized for a range of initiatives that reflect the organization’s leadership in innovative business strategies, sustainability and marketing. These initiatives range from terminal improvements that reduced YVR’s greenhouse gas emissions to government relations efforts that opened new markets and a competitive new rates and charges program. YVR’s creative business model is designed to increase non-aeronautical revenue and drive innovation, as seen with our award-winning BORDERXPRESS™ kiosks and the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Centre. YVR has also been an incubator for successful businesses that have become global leaders, including Vantage Airport Group (currently transforming LaGuardia Airport in New York) and InterVISTAS, a global consulting company with extensive expertise in aviation, transportation and tourism.

Most importantly, YVR has continued to focus on delivering remarkable customer experiences, resulting in a 91 per cent customer satisfaction rating—for three years in a row.

YVR has seen strong passenger and airline growth in 2016. Over the past year, YVR has welcomed 18 new services, 11 new destinations and 2 new airlines including Xiamen Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines. Air Canada has continued to build its Transpacific Hub at YVR with exciting new services to Brisbane, Delhi, Osaka, San Jose and Chicago. The airport welcomed a record 20.3 million passengers in 2015 and expects to surpass 22 million by year-end.