As peak summer travel season begins this weekend, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is preparing for an estimated 6.7 million passengers from June 15 through Labour Day.
“That is putting us on track for one of our busiest summers on record,” said YVR spokesperson Alyssa Smith, who says the airport authority has been preparing for the crowds with new programs and systems to keep everyone flowing through as speedily as possible.
“We have a curbside greeting program, which we piloted a few months ago, that is now fully operational. Right from the time you get dropped off and you step onto our curb, we have a number of our guest experience representatives outside who are able to answer questions or direct you to your check-in counter,” she told 1130 NewsRadio.
“For our domestic passengers, we have a new security screening facility that we operate together with CATSA, which offers new technology. Travellers don’t have to take off their shoes, don’t have to take out their laptops, no liquids need to be removed.”Smith says that it will be a time saver for domestic travellers, but reminds that the 100 millilitre restriction on carry-on liquids is still in place.
Once through security, Smith says passengers flying with Air Canada can take advantage of new technology to speed up boarding.
“We are offering biometric boarding and biometric security screening. For those who opt in and are flying with Air Canada, you can simply walk right through security screening and right onto your flight. Everything is tracked through your biometrics, and you can opt in through the Air Canada app. It’s a really big time saver.”
YVR is predicting a near four per cent increase in passengers for this summer compared to last, and a one per cent increase over pre-COVID levels in 2019.
Smith suggests there are also obvious changes in travel patterns this year as more Canadians choose destinations other than the USA.
“There is an increase in travel across Canada. We are seeing, from our data, that more people are travelling domestically than they were before, as well as to international destinations,” she explained.
“We also have a really busy cruise season as well, so travellers coming up through the U.S. or across Canada to board cruises here in Vancouver is another factor driving passenger numbers.”
She says the top destinations for passengers departing YVR have remained consistent from last year.
“It’s Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton. San Francisco is our fifth top spot. Last year, it was sixth, switching places with LA. Internationally, it’s the same familiar favourites — Hong Kong, London, as well as Frankfurt, where many are connecting onward to Asia.”
The busiest summer travel day at YVR is expected to be Friday, Aug. 8.
“Fridays are among the busiest days for travel with the exception of this weekend,” Smith added. “It’s technically not a long weekend, but we know a lot of people will likely take Monday off, and that is evidenced by that being the busiest day of this weekend, with Tuesday as the holiday.”
She says the busiest times of the day at YVR are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and again later in the evening.
“That’s when folks are heading off for longer-haul flights and the red-eye flights. Between about 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. is another quite busy period for us here at YVR.”
As the busy summer season ramps up, Smith is encouraging travellers to arrive early and plan in advance.
source & photo: CityNews
