Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is set to close out 2024 with one of its busiest holiday seasons in years, with passenger traffic expected to surpass previous records. According to the Vancouver Airport Authority, an estimated 523,229 passengers will pass through YVR between December 25 and 31, marking a 6.5% increase over the same period in 2023.
This surge in traffic is expected to make this Christmas season the busiest since the pandemic, with YVR anticipating 253,139 departing passengers and 270,090 arriving passengers over the seven-day period. The airport is forecasting its peak travel day to be Boxing Day, December 26, when 77,889 passengers are expected. For comparison, Christmas Eve, December 24, is predicted to see 72,554 passengers.
High Demand and Busy Travel Days
YVR’s December travel surge includes a significant proportion of domestic travelers, with Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton being the top domestic destinations. Internationally, the busiest routes include Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and San Francisco. The airport is advising travelers to arrive early: three hours for international or U.S. transborder flights and two hours for domestic flights.
As of Christmas Eve, YVR’s on-time performance for departures is 92.86%, and baggage delivery is running smoothly at 98.3%. Security wait times are minimal, averaging six minutes for domestic flights, three minutes for U.S. transborder, and four minutes for non-U.S. international flights.
The Taylor Swift Effect
Earlier in December, Vancouver saw a notable tourism boost due to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, with over 200,000 travelers passing through YVR during her three-night concert run from December 6 to 8. This represented an 8.1% increase in passenger volume compared to the same dates in 2023. The busiest day of the concert period was December 8, when more than 73,000 passengers passed through the terminal.
Approximately 180,000 concertgoers attended the Eras Tour at BC Place Stadium, with 70% of attendees traveling from outside the Lower Mainland, including from the U.S. The event also generated significant hotel bookings, with 82,000 room nights booked by Swift fans.
Record-Breaking Year in Sight
YVR’s strong December performance is part of a broader trend that could see 2024 surpass the airport’s all-time passenger record of 26.38 million, set in 2019. As of October 2024, the airport had already recorded 22.07 million passengers, averaging 2.21 million per month. This is slightly ahead of the 2023 total and just 280,000 passengers shy of the 2019 tally for the first 10 months.
If current trends continue, YVR is expected to surpass its 2023 passenger count of 24.94 million, securing its position as the second-busiest year in the airport’s history. The airport’s recovery post-pandemic, along with strong global aviation demand and significant local tourism growth, has been key to its performance.
Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority, noted that YVR has rebounded strongly financially, aided by the resumption of major events and the expansion of flight offerings. In addition to passenger growth, YVR also achieved its second-highest cargo volume in 2023, with 320,000 tonnes, just shy of the 2018 record.
YVR’s strong end to 2024 sets the stage for a potential record-breaking year, highlighting the airport’s continued resilience and importance as a hub for both air travel and tourism.
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