Vancouver Airport sets new passengers and cargo record in 2025
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) delivered a record-breaking performance in 2025, welcoming more than 26.9 million passengers and handling the highest cargo volumes in its 94-year history.
The milestone represents a 2.7% year-on-year increase and surpasses the previous record of 26.3 million travellers set in 2019, as YVR positions itself as Canada’s Pacific gateway.
Domestic traffic rose 3.8% over the year, while Asia Pacific passenger volumes surged by 15.6%. In contrast, transborder traffic between Vancouver and the United States declined by 7.1%.
Cargo throughput also reached new heights, with 365,000 tonnes of goods moving through YVR in 2025, a 7.4% increase compared to 2024
Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of Vancouver International Airport, said: “Strong operations and customer service combined with globally recognised innovation generated record results in 2025.”
Expanding Asia Pacific connectivity
An important driver of YVR’s record year was network expansion, including six new destinations and the addition of three carriers. The airport now hosts 57 airlines serving 129 nonstop destinations worldwide.
Among the most notable developments was the launch of year-round wide-body service by T’Way Air to Seoul in July. Network growth in 2025 also included new or returning services from Air Canada to Manila and Beijing, China Southern Airlines to Guangzhou, China Eastern Airlines to Shanghai, and WestJet to Liberia, Costa Rica.
Vrooman emphasised the airport’s readiness to capture further growth as governments pursue new bilateral and trade agreements. “We are on the ground in those emerging markets, engaged with our partners, building new relationships today to be ready for that additional growth tomorrow,” she noted.
Innovation and infrastructure investment
Operational reliability and innovation also played a significant role in YVR’s performance. In 2025, the airport was once again voted Best Airport in North America, its 14th win in the past 16 years, at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, and ranked 13th among the world’s top 20 airports.
YVR became the first airport in Canada to install e-gates for Air Canada’s Domestic Digital ID programme, enabling biometric identity verification in place of traditional boarding passes and physical identification. The initiative is being expanded to US departures.
Security screening was further enhanced through collaboration with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, making YVR the first airport in the country to deploy Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray equipment at domestic checkpoints. The new technology allows passengers to leave laptops and liquids inside their carry-on bags.
Infrastructure investment remained a priority, including the completion of a C$133 million upgrade to the airport’s North Runway. The project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen climate resilience, digital systems and physical assets, ensuring the airport can accommodate future growth while maintaining operational stability.
