What Vancouver Airport Authority does

Vancouver Airport Authority is a community-based, not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Canada under the Canada Marine Act to operate Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The authority, headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, traces its operating history to the original 1931 airfield (with the modern authority structure established in 1992), directly employs 251-500 staff, and coordinates an ecosystem of more than 26,000 airport workers. YVR functions as Canada's Pacific gateway, connecting to 119+ non-stop destinations across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania, and processed a record 26.9 million passengers and 365,000 tonnes of cargo in 2025 — the highest volumes in the airport's nearly 95-year history.

The authority operates an integrated technology stack centered on a real-time YVR Digital Twin platform, an AI-powered Deep Turnaround computer vision system developed with Aviation Solutions (a Schiphol Group subsidiary), and biometric boarding infrastructure using CBP's Traveller Verification Service and Air Canada Digital ID. It also commercializes BORDERXPRESS automated border kiosks globally, with over 1,300 deployed. Commercial revenue streams are anchored in aeronautical fees from major airline partners (Air Canada, WestJet, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Porter Airlines) and supplemented by parking services (Parkade, jetSet, Gateway Valet, Value Long Term), retail and concessions (Vancouver Duty Free, Shop Canadian at YVR), and 24/7 Cargo Village operations. The authority contributes over $15 billion annually to Canadian GDP and supports more than 119,000 jobs nationwide.

Name

Vancouver Airport Authority

Legal name

Vancouver Airport Authority

Website

https://yvr.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Vancouver Airport Authority is a federally chartered not-for-profit operating Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Canada's Pacific gateway, serving 26.9 million passengers and 365,000 tonnes of cargo annually across 119+ destinations via aeronautical fees, parking, concessions, and cargo services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Aviation Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aircraft Turnaround Coordination & Station Management (THABAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH), Airport Ground Transport Terminals (Rail/Bus/Coach) (THAIALAG)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Aviation services
• Air cargo handling
• Passenger processing
• Airport infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aeronautical Fees: Fees charged to airlines for runway access, landing rights, terminal space, and gate usage. Revenue is driven by aircraft movements, passenger volumes, and weight-based landing fees.
2. Parking and Ground Transportation: Revenue from on-airport parking facilities including parkade and garage options, as well as ground transportation services.
3. Concessions and Retail: Revenue share from retail stores, restaurants, duty-free shops, and other commercial tenants operating within the terminal.
4. Cargo Handling Services: Fees for cargo handling, freight forwarding services, and cargo facility access supporting 365,000 tonnes of annual cargo throughput.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vancouver Airport Authority operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR), providing aeronautical infrastructure and services to airlines (runway access, gates, terminal space), passenger processing (check-in, security, boarding via BORDERXPRESS kiosks and biometric systems), cargo handling through Cargo Village, on-airport parking and ground transportation, and concession/retail operations. The organization also licenses its BORDERXPRESS self-service kiosk technology to airports worldwide and deploys proprietary Digital Twin and Deep Turnaround AI platforms for airport operations optimization.

Product overview

Vancouver Airport Authority operates Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as a not-for-profit airport authority, providing comprehensive passenger and cargo services through multiple integrated platforms. The core offering includes the Digital Twin system for real-time airport simulation and operations, BORDERXPRESS self-service kiosks (over 1,300 sold globally), biometric boarding using facial recognition for U.S.-bound and domestic flights, and the Cargo Village for 24/7 freight operations. Supporting services include retail/dining through Shop Canadian and Vancouver Duty Free, comprehensive parking operations (Parkade, jetSet, Gateway Valet, Value Long Term), multiple accessibility programs, and Airport South facilities for regional aviation. The airport serves as Canada's second busiest airport with connections to 118+ non-stop destinations and contributes over $15 billion annually to Canada's GDP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BORDERXPRESS: Automated border control kiosk system sold to airports worldwide, with over 1,300 kiosks sold
• Cargo Village
• Deep Turnaround
• jetSet Parking
• Gateway Valet
• YVR Innovation Hub

Products and services

• YVR Digital Twin
• BORDERXPRESS Kiosks

Quantifiable outcome

• 26.9 million passengers processed in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Aviation Solutions (Schiphol Group subsidiary)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Aviation Solutions, a subsidiary of Schiphol Group, developed the Deep Turnaround AI platform for YVR. This AI-powered technology platform optimizes aircraft turnaround operations, improving on-time performance and operational efficiency at Vancouver International Airport.
• Air CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Air Canada is YVR's primary airline partner, collaborating on biometric boarding for U.S.-bound flights, digital identification programs, and facial recognition technology. The partnership positions YVR as the first Canadian airport to implement these advanced passenger processing technologies.
• U.S. Customs and Border ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal agency partner enabling biometric boarding for U.S.-bound flights at YVR. The partnership facilitates paperless travel verification and enhances security screening processes for passengers departing to the United States.
• Transport CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal regulatory partner supporting the implementation of biometric boarding technology at YVR. Transport Canada provides regulatory approval and oversight for the innovative passenger processing system.
• FortisBC Energy Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024FortisBC Energy Inc. helped fund Vancouver International Airport's installation of high-efficiency heating system upgrades, supporting YVR's sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives.
• Parkland's Burnaby RefinerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Parkland's Burnaby Refinery provided a 101,000-litre batch of domestically manufactured low carbon aviation fuel to YVR, supporting the airport's sustainable aviation fuel program and decarbonization efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greater Toronto Airports Authority: Operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's largest airport, under a similar federally-leased not-for-profit airport authority model. Directly comparable in governance structure, revenue model (aeronautical fees, concessions, parking), and Canadian regulatory context.
• Aéroports de Montréal: Operates Montréal-Trudeau International Airport under a similar Canadian not-for-profit airport authority model. Comparable in scale, regulatory environment, and operational mandate, with direct overlap in serving transatlantic and transborder routes.
• Calgary Airport Authority: Operates Calgary International Airport as a not-for-profit Canadian airport authority. Directly comparable in governance model and operational mandate, serving as a major Western Canadian hub with overlapping airline and cargo partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Schiphol Group: Dutch airport operator and parent of Aviation Solutions, YVR's technology partner for the Deep Turnaround AI platform. Operates one of Europe's largest airport networks and is a global leader in aviation technology commercialization, with comparable focus on operational efficiency innovation.
• Singapore Changi Airport: Operated by Changi Airport Group as a leading global airport consistently ranked at the top of Skytrax awards. Comparable as a major Asia-anchored hub airport with strong passenger experience focus and technology adoption.
• Incheon International Airport Corporation: Operates Incheon International Airport in South Korea, consistently ranked among the world's best airports by Skytrax. Comparable as a major Asia-Pacific gateway with similar emphasis on operational excellence and technology-driven passenger experience.
• Hong Kong International Airport (AAHK): Operated by Airport Authority Hong Kong as a major transpacific gateway airport. Comparable as a Pacific hub competing for similar transpacific passenger and cargo flows that drive YVR's Asia-Pacific growth.

Regional players

• Auckland Airport: Listed New Zealand airport operator serving as the country's primary international gateway. Comparable in Pacific Rim positioning, not-for-profit-adjacent infrastructure mandate, and focus on transpacific route development, though operating in a different geography than YVR.
• Port of Seattle (Sea-Tac Airport): Operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as a major U.S. Pacific Northwest hub. Comparable as a competing Pacific gateway airport with overlapping airline networks and similar cargo/passenger mix targeting Asia-Pacific demand.
• San Francisco International Airport: Operated by the City and County of San Francisco as a major transpacific gateway with strong Asia-Pacific route network. Comparable as a competing Pacific gateway serving similar long-haul international demand from the North American West Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yvrairport
• Facebookfacebook.com/VancouverInternationalAirport
• Instagraminstagram.com/yvrairport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-airport-authority

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver Airport Authority