By Skies Magazine | April 17, 2024 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 4 seconds.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has reclaimed its position as the best airport in North America, according to rankings from the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards.
YVR is also ranked No. 17 in the world, and is one of three Canadian airports recognized among the world’s top 100 facilities this year. Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is ranked No. 53 worldwide; Toronto Pearson sits at No. 63.
“Regaining our top spot as Best Airport in North America is a result of the dedication and hard work of our employees and everyone working here at YVR to serve travellers and our community,” said Tamara Vrooman, president and CEO of YVR, in a release.
YVR is the only facility to receive Best Airport in North America 14 times, winning most recently in 2021. Seattle-Tacoma airport took top honours in each of the last two years.
The rankings are based on what is said to be the world’s largest annual airport customer satisfaction survey, evaluating travellers’ experience in frontline areas.
North American airports were shut out of the top 10 in global rankings, led by Doha Hamad airport in Qatar at No. 1 and Singapore Changi and Seoul Incheon airports in the second and third spots, respectively.
YVR said it implemented several operational improvements in 2023 to “build resilience and deliver a more efficient, predictable travel experience.” This included a new curbside greeting program and sign language on information boards at each departure gate.
Total passenger volume at YVR in 2023 was 24.9 million.
“From the team greeting people at our front doors, to those who move cargo and bags, to security staff who keep us moving safely, to those to maintain and clean our facilities — 26,000 people work at our airport each and every day with pride and purpose,” said Vrooman.
“This recognition belongs to them, and I want to acknowledge and thank them for all their work this past year.”
