The Complete Guide to Victoria International Airport (YYJ)

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is the 11th busiest airport in Canada, connecting Vancouver Island with destinations across North America.

Location and Transportation

Victoria International Airport is located 30 minutes north of Downtown Victoria at 1640 Electra Boulevard in Sidney, British Columbia.

The town of Sidney itself is a short seven-minute drive away, while the Swartz Bay ferry terminal is 15 minutes away.

Public transportation options servicing the airport include the following:

• Bus route 87 links the airport with the town of Sidney in the north and the village of Saanichton in the south. It runs from 8:30am until 6:30pm on weekdays, and doesn’t run on the weekends.
• Bus route 88 connects the airport with the town of Sidney and the McTavish Park & Ride to the south. It runs from 6:30am until 9pm on weekdays, 8am until 9pm on Saturdays, and 8:40am to 8:30pm on Sundays.

From the McTavish Park & Ride, you’re then able to connect onwards, all the way to Downtown Victoria via bus route 70.

The cost of a single adult bus fare is $2.50 (CAD), but to continue on to Victoria, you’ll need to pay again for route 70, bringing the total cost to $5.00 (CAD).

Victoria International Airport is also serviced by taxis and rideshare companies, including KABU and Uber.

Keep in mind that taxis don’t have set rates for passengers going to or from the airport, so you’ll want to do a price comparison to see which option is the most economical for your journey.

The designated pick-up spot for these services is just outside the arrivals hall on the ground floor.

Car rentals are also available at the airport and are located on the first floor, and the companies available at Victoria International Airport include:

• Avis
• Budget
• Hertz
• Thrifty
• National

You can also find the following car rental companies at off-site locations:

• Alamo
• Enterprise

Unfortunately, Victoria International Airport doesn’t have a complimentary parking lot for drivers picking up passengers, but it does have a conveniently placed lot just outside the arrivals hall for a nominal fee of $1 (CAD) for up to two hours.

Terminals

There’s only one terminal at Victoria International Airport, which is known as the Main Terminal.

The Main Terminal is composed of three levels:

• Level 1 is home to the arrivals hall, check-in counters, domestic and international baggage carousels, security, and departure gates 5–11.
• Level 2 is solely a departure hall with gates 3, 4, 12, and 13.
• Level 3 houses a small observation lounge and a historical exhibit.

Airlines

Eight airlines fly in and out of Victoria International Airport, connecting passengers to destinations across North America.

The airport hosts the following airlines:

Star Alliance

• Air Canada

Oneworld

• Alaska Airlines

Other Airlines

• Air North
• Flair Airlines
• Kenmore Air
• Pacific Coastal Airlines
• Porter Airlines
• WestJet

Lounges

There are currently no lounges at Victoria International Airport. However, there are a handful of food and beverage options.

Priority Services

At Victoria International Airport, premium ticket holders and passengers with elite status can enjoy some of the following priority services:

• Priority check-in
• Priority security
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling

Airport Hotels

There are no on-site hotels at the Victoria International Airport; however, there are two hotels very nearby:

• Days Inn by Wyndham Victoria Airport Sidney
• Best Western Plus Emerald Isle Hotel

Additionally, the following hotels are located in the town of Sidney, which is only a short drive away:

• The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa
• Sidney Waterfront Inn & Suites
• Beacon Inn at Sidney
• Cedarwood Inn & Suites

International Transfers

For those passing through Victoria 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

Victoria International Airport isn’t host to a US pre-clearance facility; therefore, you’ll have to go through the formalities when you arrive at your first port of entry in the US.