Vancouver Airport Terminal (YVR): Terminals, Airlines, Parking, and Transportation 

Last Updated on Jun 25th, 2026 by Neha Sharma, Leave a Comment

For a well-prepared traveller, knowledge of the airport’s infrastructure is paramount to a successful travel experience. Vancouver International Airport (YVR), a top-ranked airport in North America, is not just a place of transit but a fully conceived link between British Columbia and the world. This guide offers an in-depth look at the Vancouver airport terminal, giving you insights about the infrastructure similar to those that would be enjoyed by a pilot.

Vancouver Airport Terminal Layout And Map

The Vancouver airport terminal layout facility is structured over four primary levels, each with a specific function designed to optimize passenger flow.

• Level 1 (Services and Ground Transportation): At this level, we will find ground transport facilities that include the arrival zones of international flights and transborder flights with customs clearance and baggage claim facilities. The facilities available at this level include car rentals and taxis along with the SkyTrain Canada Line stations.
• Level 2 (Arrivals and Public Access): This level primarily serves arriving passengers, as most domestic flights arrive here. However, this level also accommodates public crowds, providing access to various restaurants, shops, and SkyTrain stations.
• Level 3 (The Departures Concourse): Here, travellers will find everything they need for their flights to Vancouver. The map of Vancouver Airport at Level 3 shows the Domestic, US (Transborder), and International departure concourses. This level has everything travellers need for their time at the airport.
• Level 4 (SkyTrain Access): Travelers will be able to board the SkyTrain on this level of the airport.

Navigating the Concourses: The Vancouver Airport Gates

The Main Terminal’s departures level is further subdivided into specific piers or concourses. Vancouver airport gates are essential for a stress-free experience, as specific airlines and flight types are allocated to specific areas.

• Pier A (Domestic/Regional): This concourse is part of the Domestic Terminal and handles regional flights. WestJet Encore primarily uses this concourse. It features ground-level loading ramps to facilitate efficient boarding processes. The concourse includes gates A6 through A10 and A12. 
• Pier B (Domestic): This pier is a primary hub for WestJet’s mainline domestic operations, also serving carriers such as Air North, Air Transat (domestic operations), Flair Airlines, and Sunwing Airlines. Therefore, for those seeking the WestJet Terminal YVR, the check-in counters will direct passengers to this area, though Pier A remains the domain of their regional subsidiary.
• Pier C (Domestic/International): This concourse is largely dedicated to Air Canada Terminal Vancouver operations and Air Canada Express domestic flights. It is a swing-gate concourse; gates C48 and C49 can handle international arrivals, and gates C50-C52 can be configured for international departures and arrivals, offering flexibility for the airline’s network.
• Pier D (International): This is the primary hub for the YVR International Terminal, serving flights to destinations outside of Canada and the United States. It also has swing-gate capability, where gates D50-D52 can be used for domestic flights in specific configurations.
• Pier E (Transborder/US Flights): This is a dedicated US preclearance area that solely serves flights to the United States. The Alaska Airlines Vancouver Terminal and the Delta Terminal Vancouver are located within this Transborder section of the Main Terminal, specifically operating out of the E concourse.

Terminal Specifics: The South Terminal

As previously mentioned, the South Terminal operates independently. It has its own parking facilities and is connected to the Main Terminal via a complimentary 24-hour shuttle bus service. This terminal is important for access to British Columbia’s remote communities and coastal areas, serving as a primary base for floatplane operations.

Brief Overview Of Airline Terminal at YVR

To assist with your planning, the following airlines operate from the respective piers:

Airline	Terminal/Pier	Flight Type
Air Canada & Air Canada Express	Main Terminal: Pier C	Domestic & International
Air Canada & Air Canada Rouge	Main Terminal: Pier E	US Transborder
WestJet	Main Terminal: Pier B	Domestic
WestJet Encore	Main Terminal: Pier A	Domestic
Alaska Airlines	Main Terminal: Pier E	US Transborder
Delta Air Lines	Main Terminal: Pier E	US Transborder
Regional Airlines	South Terminal	Charter/Regional

Airport Amenities and Services

Vancouver Airport is renowned for its exceptional amenities and seamless passenger experience.

Dining and Retail

The Main Terminal concourses offer a diverse range of dining options reflecting the multicultural fabric of Canada. Travellers can choose from a wide range of options, including North American pub fare at the Whistler Taphouse & Grill, Vietnamese banh mi, and Hawaiian poke. Retail options are equally varied, spanning bookstores, souvenir shops, and designer boutiques, in addition to multiple World Duty Free locations.

Airport Lounges

For the seasoned traveller, Vancouver International Airport also has several high-end lounges. There are three Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges, catering to business class passengers & elites. There is also a Cathay Pacific Lounge situated between gates D70 and D71, famous for its noodle bar.

The SkyTeam Lounge, located at gate D53, is for first, business, and elite plus passengers travelling on SkyTeam airlines. For everyone else, there are daily passes for the Plaza Premium Lounge, with four locations in the domestic, US, and international concourses. 

Ground Transportation and Pick-Up/Drop-Off

The knowledge of parking facilities and picking up/dropping off passengers can prove important for a hassle-free entry or exit from Vancouver Airport. YVR’s official website is the best source for information about pick-ups and drop-offs based on the mode of a passenger’s arrival.

• Domestic Arrivals: Pick-ups occur at the Arrivals, Canada exit via Door 24 .
• International and US Arrivals: Pickups occur at the Arrivals, International, and USA exits via Door 17.
• Drop-Offs: All public drop-offs take place along the Level 3 departures curb.

Top Routes From Vancouver To India You Can Consider 

• Canada To Ahmedabad Flights
• Canada To Amritsar Flights
• Canada To Bangalore Flights
• Canada To Chennai Flights
• Canada To Cochin Flights
• Canada To Coimbatore Flights
• Canada To Delhi Flights
• Canada To Goa Flights
• Canada To Hyderabad Flights
• Canada To Kolkata Flights
• Canada To Mumbai Flights
• Canada To Pune Flights

Conclusion

YVR has two terminals. The Main Terminal handles all major airlines. The South Terminal handles small planes and floatplanes. Do not go to the wrong terminal.

The Main Terminal has four levels. Level 3 is for departures. Level 2 is for arrivals. Level 1 has taxis and rentals. Level 4 connects to the SkyTrain.

Pier B is for WestJet. Pier C is for Air Canada. Pier E is for US flights, including Alaska and Delta.

Take the SkyTrain to downtown. It is quick and cheap. Taxis and Uber work too.

Check a terminal map before you go. Know your airline and gate. Arrive early. That is all you need. Safe travels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many terminals does Vancouver International Airport have?

A: YVR Airport has two primary terminals: the Main Terminal that services all domestic, transborder United States, and international flights; and the South Terminal that handles regional flights, charters, and floatplane flights.

Q: Which terminal does Air Canada operate from at YVR?

A: The Air Canada Terminal Vancouver can be found in the Main Terminal building. Air Canada domestic services operate out of Pier C, while Air Canada transborder services operate out of Pier E.

Q: Is the WestJet Terminal at YVR in the Main or South Terminal?

A: Alaska Airlines’ Vancouver terminal is in the Transborder section of the Main Terminal Building, more specifically at Pier E, and the same applies to the Delta Terminal Vancouver.

Q: Where do Alaska Airlines and Delta Airlines operate from at YVR?

A: Both the Alaska Airlines Vancouver Terminal and the Delta Terminal Vancouver are in the Transborder section of the Main Terminal building, located in Pier E.

Q: How do I travel between the Main Terminal and the South Terminal?

A: Complimentary bus service is available from the Main Terminal to the South Terminal 24 hours a day.

Q: What are the levels of the Main Terminal used for?

A: The Main Terminal Terminal comprises four floors. Floor 1 consists of ground transportation facilities, Floor 2 is mainly for Domestic arrivals, Floor 3 is the Departures concourse, while Floor 4 provides SkyTrain access.

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