By the end of December, Kelowna International Airport (YLW) expects about 2.1 million passengers to pass through its gates.
This breaks the previous record of 2.05 million set in 2018. “It’s an all-time record,” said Sam Samaddar, YLW CEO. “When we look at overall traffic, our winter schedule, international and other flights—those have grown immensely.”
Samaddar estimated 200,000 to 225,000 people will pass through in December. He noted an increase in jets.
“With jets, you get bigger aircraft and more seats.” Even with the same number of planes, they’re larger, so more people are using the facility, he explained.
He said the growth reflects confidence in YLW, its airlines and Kelowna as a popular destination.
“The airport is a regional economic driver,” he added. “Take skiing for example. At a lot of Canadian airports, their traffic actually goes down over the winter period and we continue to rise.”
To help reduce travel stress, YLW started winter operations early. This includes handling construction and changes to the short-term parking entrance, terminal expansion work. Passengers can prepare by checking in online, paying for baggage in advance, and getting boarding passes ahead of time. Travellers should also arrive at least two hours in advance of their flights and expect longer lines than normal.
Samaddar also advised packing liquids in a clear plastic bag for easy access and checking YLW or airline websites for flight updates or delays.
“Weather is always a wild card and can cause difficulties,” he said.
Parking is expected to fill quickly in December. Samaddar recommended using YLW Valet Parking, rideshares, taxis, or getting dropped off by friends or family. “We’ll be over capacity for parking demand,” he cautioned.
Extra staff will be on hand during December to help manage the busy period.
