Kamloops Airport

What Kamloops Airport does

Kamloops Airport (YKA) is a privately operated regional airport located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1939 and operated as a port of entry under the Customs Act. The airport is managed by Kamloops Airport Ltd. under a long-term lease with the Kamloops Airport Authority Society, with operational oversight provided by Vantage Airport Group. The facility welcomed over 310,000 passengers in 2023 and serves as the primary commercial aviation gateway for the Thompson-Okanagan region, generating approximately $75 million in annual economic activity and supporting 860-900 local jobs.

YKA's core operations comprise scheduled and charter flight services (via Air Canada, WestJet, Pacific Coastal, and forthcoming Air North), terminal passenger processing with CATSA security and CBSA customs, parking services (hourly at $2.50, daily at $16, weekly at $98, annual pass at $1,463.70), ground transportation partnerships (Budget, Enterprise, National car rentals; taxi and shuttle operators), floatplane dock facilities along the Thompson River, and ancillary food and beverage operations through Jill's Catering. The airport also operates specialized programs including the YKA Drop Zone recycling initiative, a Biosphere Certified sustainability program (achieved July 2025), and a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower accessibility program developed in compliance with the Accessible Canada Act.

The business model combines transaction-fee revenue streams (landing and terminal fees from airline partners, parking charges, floatplane dock permits) with managed-services revenue from ground handling and concession arrangements. Go-to-market is partnership-driven through airline channel relationships and regional tourism ecosystem coordination via the YKA LINK collaborative partnership. An Air Terminal Rehabilitation Project launched in late 2025 and a 9.5% YoY passenger increase in Q1 2026 (86,059 travelers) signal ongoing capacity expansion, while new Air North service launching May 2027 extends the route network into Yukon with Whitehorse connections.

Name

Kamloops Airport

Legal name

Kamloops Airport Ltd.

Website

https://kamloopsairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kamloops Airport (YKA) is a privately operated regional airport in British Columbia, Canada, serving as the primary aviation gateway for the Thompson-Okanagan region with 310,000+ annual passengers, four scheduled airline partners, parking, ground transportation, and floatplane dock services under Vantage Airport Group management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamloops

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Airport Operations and Fees: Revenue generated from airport fees, landing fees, terminal fees, and passenger charges from airline partners operating at YKA
2. Parking Services: Hourly, daily, weekly, and annual parking revenue from travelers using airport parking facilities, including EV charging stations
3. Ground Handling Services: Services provided through partnerships with ground handlers and passenger handling companies at the airport
4. Floatplane Dock and Marine Services: Revenue from floatplane dock operations, Boat Vehicle Operator Permits, and seasonal fees for dock access

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kamloops Airport (YKA) operates as a regional transportation hub providing flight operations, parking, ground transportation, and passenger amenities for travelers in British Columbia's Interior. The airport delivers scheduled airline and charter services, terminal parking with EV charging, check-in and security screening, dining, car rentals, and accessibility services for business and leisure travelers, supporting over 310,000 annual passengers.

Product overview

Kamloops Airport (YKA) is a regional airport operating as a single-facility transportation hub. The airport's core services include flight operations (arrivals/departures), parking, ground transportation, and passenger security screening. Supporting services include the YKA Drop Zone recycling program, Accessibility Program, Floatplane Dock facilities, Jill's Catering dining services, and an ongoing Air Terminal Rehabilitation Project. The airport is managed by Vantage Airport Group under agreement with the Kamloops Airport Authority Society, serving approximately 310,000+ annual passengers with routes to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Whitehorse via airline partners Air Canada, Pacific Coastal, WestJet, and upcoming Air North service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YKA Drop Zone: Refundable bottle and can recycling initiative where local charitable organizations and youth sports teams collect returnable containers and keep 100% of bottle deposit refunds.
• YKA LINK

Products and services

• Parking Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 9.5% year-over-year passenger growth in Q1 2026 (86,059 travelers vs 78,571 in 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Air NorthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 July 2026New twice-weekly seasonal service between Kamloops and Vancouver beginning May 2027, with convenient one-stop connections to and from Whitehorse. Air North, Yukon's Airline, is 100% Yukon-owned including 49% by the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation.
• Lemonade Day KamloopsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 August 2025Kamloops Airport designated as a 'Sweet Spot' location supporting youth entrepreneurship through the Lemonade Day program, hosting lemonade stands and community engagement events.
• Local Charitable OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025YKA Drop Zone program enables registered charities, non-profits, and youth sports teams to collect returnable containers and keep 100% of refund proceeds to support their causes.
• YKA LINKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Regional collaborative partnership of tourism, business and government organizations working together to strengthen air service, improve regional connectivity and expand access to communities across British Columbia's Interior. Board President Bill Sarai is Kamloops City Councillor.
• #NotInMyCity (NIMC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025Partnership to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation through personnel training, educational materials, and community organization partnerships. Kamloops Airport joins dozens of other Canadian airports as transportation allies.
• Vantage Airport GroupcoreOthersVantage Airport Group oversees the operation of YKA under a long-term agreement with the Kamloops Airport Authority Society. Provides opportunity to benefit from global airport best practices through Vantage's worldwide network of 10 airports in five countries.
• Spinal Cord Injury BCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop an Accessible Airport Tour program with funding from Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan). Interactive Google Maps walkthrough allows passengers to preview key areas of the terminal.
• Office of the Chief Accessibility OfficerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration featuring international accessibility perspectives video series shared on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook for International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
• Air CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScheduled passenger flights connecting YKA to Air Canada destinations. Primary commercial airline partner serving the airport.
• WestJetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScheduled passenger flights including WestJet Link service to Vancouver and seasonal service to Edmonton. Major airline partner.
• Pacific Coastal AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorScheduled regional flights connecting Kamloops to destinations in B.C. Regional airline partner.
• Kamloops Airport Authority SocietycoreOthersOwner and governing body of Kamloops Airport. Extends long-term lease for operation and management of Kamloops Airport by Vantage Group and Kamloops Airport Ltd.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Victoria International Airport: B.C. regional airport serving an analogous provincial tourism and business catchment with comparable airline partnerships and similar passenger scale.
• Canadian Rockies International Airport (Cranbrook): Small B.C. Interior regional airport with sub-200K passenger volumes and similar tourism/leisure seasonality tied to ski and outdoor recreation markets.
• Comox Valley Airport: Small Vancouver Island regional airport with similar passenger volumes (~300–400K), leisure-driven demand, and WestJet Link-style connectivity.
• Abbotsford International Airport: Lower Mainland regional airport with overlapping ultra-low-cost and scheduled carrier mix, competing for some B.C. Interior origin traffic.
• Prince George Airport: Northern B.C. regional gateway of comparable scale (sub-500K passengers) sharing similar airline partner profiles and reliance on resource-sector and leisure travel.
• Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport: Northern regional gateway directly linked to YKA via the new Air North Kamloops–Vancouver–Whitehorse service; comparable in scale, remoteness, and seasonal airline economics.
• Nanaimo Airport: Vancouver Island regional airport of similar scale and carrier mix, serving a comparable island/regional catchment with seasonal demand dynamics.
• Kelowna International Airport: Larger regional airport serving the Okanagan Valley under the same operator (Vantage Airport Group); directly comparable in catchment type, airline mix (Air Canada, WestJet, Pacific Coastal), and British Columbia Interior market dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Calgary International Airport (YYC): Major Western Canadian hub and WestJet's primary base; competes indirectly with YKA for Alberta-bound passengers but operates at incomparably larger scale.
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR): Primary B.C. hub that anchors YKA's connecting traffic; overlapping airline partners but vastly larger scale and broader route network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ocao-bdpacanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kamloops-airport

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kamloops Airport