The Complete Guide to Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is located in the capital of Alberta. Nicknamed the Gateway to the North, the airport connects to destinations in North America and Europe.

Location and Transportation

Edmonton International Airport is located at 1000 Airport Road, near Leduc, Alberta, 13 kilometres south of Edmonton and around a 30-minute drive from the city’s downtown.

In terms of public transportation, Route 747, a dedicated express bus service run by Edmonton Transit links the airport to Century Park Transit Centre, from where passengers can connect to further destinations via light rail and bus.

Route 747 operates daily between 4:10am to 12:30am, and the full ride takes around 25 minutes.

If you’re travelling to or from Leduc, you can use the Route 10 bus operated by Leduc Transit, which runs daily from 9:06am to 10:17pm.

The Edmonton International Airport has agreements with a number of taxi and limo services, allowing them to offer rides to downtown Edmonton for a flat rate. The airport pickup location is located just outside Door 9 of the arrivals hall.

Ridesharing to and from the airport is also available through Uber. You can find the designated pick-up area just outside of Door 10 of the arrivals hall.

Edmonton International Airport is also serviced by shuttle bus services that help get travellers to Red Deer, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Jasper, and beyond. 

The airport also has a number of car rental companies, all of which are located on the ground level of the parkade, outside Door 8. The following rental agencies are available on-site:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Enterprise
• Dollar Car Rental
• Hertz
• National
• Thrifty

Finally, if you have a layover in Edmonton, consider using the free On-Airport Transit service, which provides on-demand shuttles to and from any point within Airport City. Through this service you can access the nearby premium outlet mall, golf course, casino, racetrack, and more.

Edmonton International Airport also has a dedicated Park & Wait area for those waiting to pick up passengers. The parking area is located one minute from the terminal at the corner of Airport Road and Airport Perimeter Road.

Terminals

Edmonton International Airport is composed of a single terminal with two levels:

• Level 1 is the arrivals area and contains Canada Border Services and the international and domestic baggage carousels
• Level 2 is the departure hall, and it houses the check-in counters, security, US Pre-Clearance, and gates 7–88

Airlines and Destinations

Edmonton International Airport hosts 12 airlines that fly to locations across North America, including a handful of sun destinations, as well as to a couple of European cities.

The following airlines operate in and out of Edmonton International Airport:

Star Alliance

• Air Canada
• United Airlines

Oneworld

• Alaska Airlines

SkyTeam

• KLM

Other Airlines

• Air North
• Canadian North
• Central Mountain Air
• Condor
• Flair Airlines
• Northwestern Air
• Porter Airlines
• WestJet

Lounges

Edmonton International Airport is home to three departure lounges: the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge and two Plaza Premium Lounges.

Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge

The Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is located on the departure level next to Gate 54. It’s open daily from 4:30am to 11:15pm.

If you’re flying to the US, you won’t be able to access this lounge due to its location; however, one of the Plaza Premium Lounges is accessible.

Plaza Premium Lounges

Edmonton International Airport has two Plaza Premium Lounges, one for travellers heading to the US and the other for those on domestic and international (non-US) flights.

The Plaza Premium Lounge (Domestic & International) is near Gate 56, directly adjacent to the Maple Leaf Lounge, and it is open daily from 4:30am to 7:30pm.

The Plaza Premium Lounge (US) is located next to Gate 88 and is open daily from 5:00am to 4:30pm.

Priority Services

Edmonton International Airport offers priority services for premium ticket holders or elite status holders. These services may include priority check-in, security, boarding, and baggage, as well as lounge access. 

However, it’s important to keep in mind that priority services are usually specific to the airline, so they’ll change depending on who you are flying with.

If you don’t have airline status or a premium cabin ticket, you can take advantage of YEG Express to reserve an appointment for security screening from home or when you get to the airport.

This service can help speed up your journey through security for domestic and international flights.

Note that US-bound flights are excluded from this service, but they can take advantage of NEXUS to enjoy a smoother security and US pre-clearance experience.

Airport Hotels

There are two hotels located on-site at the Edmonton International Airport.

The Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel connects to the airport via a skybridge, allowing guests to get back and forth between the terminal and the hotel without ever stepping outside.

Fairfield by Marriott Edmonton International Airport is also located on airport grounds and, although it’s not directly connected to the terminal, it does offer a free airport shuttle.

In addition to the two above options, the following hotels offer shuttle services to Edmonton International Airport and are located in the nearby towns of Leduc and Nisku:

• Airways Country Inn
• Comfort Inn and Suites
• Crystal Star Inn
• Days Inn (formerly Leduc Inn)
• Denham Inn & Suites – Best Western
• Edmonton International Travelodge
• Executive Royal Inn
• Hampton Inn & Suites
• Hilton Garden Inn
• Holiday Inn Express
• Nisku Inn & Conference Centre
• Quality Inn & Suites – Airport
• Ramada Inn
• Stars Inn Leduc
• Super 8 Motel
• Western Budget Motel

International Transfers

For those passing through Edmonton International Airport from the US or another country, you’ll need to go through passport control upon arrival.

Following this, you can then proceed to collect your baggage and check-in for your next flight as usual.

US Pre-Clearance

If you’re departing on or connecting to a flight to the United States, you must clear US customs and immigration at Edmonton International Airport’s pre-clearance facility. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents process passengers from 4:30am to 6:30pm daily.

To expedite your journey through US pre-clearance, you may use NEXUS, Global Entry, or Mobile Passport Control.