Buses to and from Richmond Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Vancouver International Airport is the second largest airport in Canada, and is located approximately 12km, or 7.5 miles from Downtown Vancouver. The airport is served by numerous airline companies, including Air Canada and Transat, and has several well-equipped terminal buildings. Vancouver Airport has some of the best ground transport options of all the airports in Canada, and is the only one with a train station, however, Vancouver Airport buses are available as well, and are used by many passengers. The airport buses travel to local destinations, as well as to locations further from the city of Vancouver.

Vancouver Airport consists of three terminal buildings. The Domestic and International Terminals are the main passenger buildings of the airport, and can even be considered as one, with two sections. However, the third terminal is more remote, and referred to as the South Terminal. An airport shuttle bus is available to passengers for transport between the South Terminal and the Domestic and International Terminals. The shuttle is operated by Vancouver Airport and the regional airline companies that operate from the South Terminal, and is free of charge. Services are available three times an hour, between the hours of 06:30 and 18:30, seven days a week, but with a slightly modified schedule over weekends and on holidays. At the South Terminal, passengers will find the shuttle inside, nearby the baggage carousel, and at the Domestic Terminal, on Arrivals Level 2, exit Door F. Passengers who need the shuttle from the International Terminal should go to Arrivals Level 2, and to Bus Bay 1.

Vancouver Airport buses to Downtown Vancouver

Although the main form of ground transportation to Richmond/Vancouver from the airport is via the new rapid transit rail link, airport buses are also available to Downtown Vancouver. A special Vancouver Airport shuttle service, known as the Aeroshuttle, offers reliable transport to many of the major hotels in Downtown Vancouver. From Vancouver Airport, no reservation is required, and the shuttles depart from the Ground Transportation area on Level 2 of the arrival halls of the Domestic and International Terminals. Aeroshuttle signage will help to show the way. In order to reach the airport from your hotel, a reservation should be made, at least twelve hours in advance. Further details can be found on the bus company’s website, http://www.aeroshuttleyvr.ca.

Courtesy hotel shuttles are also available to many local (Richmond) hotels, for example, the Abercorn Inn, Accent Inns, Comfort Inn Airport, Days Inn, Four Points By Sheraton, the Hilton Vancouver Airport, Holiday Inn Vancouver Airport – Richmond, the Executive Airport Plaza and the Executive Inn Express, as well as many others. Vancouver hotels include the Airport Inn and the Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel. Passengers can use the direct dial phones located on Arrival Level 2 of both terminals to request a hotel shuttle bus service. Phones are also available at the shuttle bus pick-up area at the terminals. Hotel shuttles are accessible to disabled passengers.

Later at night and during times when there are interruptions of the airport rail link, the N10 night bus connects the airport to Richmond and Downtown Vancouver. This bus is available from the Domestic and International Terminals, and the C92 bus calls on the South Terminal.

Long distance Vancouver Airport buses

Pacific Coach is the main provider of bus services from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler in British Columbia and to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Passengers of the airport can travel to Whistler or Squamish on the YVR Whistler/SkyLynx buses which depart from both the Domestic and International Terminals. The bus stops are located just outside of Level 2 of the terminals, and the Whistler buses are available five to seven times a day, seven days a week, at various times, and the journey to Whistler takes approximately two and a half hours. Pacific Coach is the only bus company with ticket counters in the airport buildings. Their services can be found at the International Terminal, in the arrivals area. There are also counters available in the Domestic Terminal, for the purchase of bus tickets, or tickets may be purchased on the board the coach. Credit cards may be used. Several buses a day travel from Whistler to Vancouver Airport as well.

Another service offered by Pacific Coach is to Victoria, on Vancouver Island. The times available for these buses are 07:40, 09:40, 11:40, 13:40, 15:40, 17:40 and 19:40. The last bus terminates at Swartz Bay only. Bus tickets for Victoria can be purchased from the various counters of Pacific Coach in the Domestic and International Vancouver Airport terminals. Further details regarding Pacific Coach can be found online, at http://www.pacificcoach.com.

Another long-distance airport bus service available to passengers of Vancouver Airport is the QuickShuttle bus, travelling to U.S. cities south of Vancouver. They include Bellingham, Everett and Seattle in Washington State. Tickets can be purchased at the bus counter located at the curb-side of the International Terminal arrivals level, or on the bus. Although a reservation isn’t required, it is recommended, and advanced bookings can be made online from the company’s website at http://www.quickcoach.com. The QuickShuttle bus is accessible to persons with reduced mobility, and for persons in wheelchairs.

On the majority of the airport buses, children under the age of five travel for free. The buses also have adequate room for baggage. Most passengers find the Vancouver Airport buses to be a comfortable and convenient way to travel.