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Kelowna International Airport

Kelowna, Canada
Routes out
15
Destinations
11
ICAO
CYLW
Elevation
1421 ft
The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Kelowna International Airport

YLW
Location
Kelowna · BC · Canada
Connectivity
15 routes · 11 destinations
Position
49.956°, -119.378° · 1421 ft elev.
Visa & Entry
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), Visitor Visa (TRV)Official
AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Kelowna International Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

Language
Wine country flavour, terminal fresh

Kelowna International Airport may be compact, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to eating well before you fly. The main terminal's dining options have evolved considerably in recent years, with a genuine effort to reflect the Okanagan's celebrated food-and-drink culture. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite near the departure gates or settling in for a proper sit-down meal, you'll find the offerings feel distinctly local rather than generic airport fare.

The standout stop airside is a café concept that leans proudly into BC wine country identity, pouring VQA wines from nearby Okanagan vineyards and pairing them with charcuterie boards loaded with regional cheeses and cured meats. There's also a reliable counter serving hearty wraps, grain bowls, and freshly baked pastries that use local fruit — think Okanagan peach preserves and Summerland apple compotes. Grab a flat white and a flaky cheese croissant and you'll feel like you've taken a small piece of the valley with you.

For travellers with a longer layover or an early morning departure, the terminal's breakfast offerings are genuinely satisfying. Hot egg sandwiches, smoked salmon bagels, and thick-cut avocado toast are standards you'll find done with care rather than indifference. Coffee quality is notably good — a welcome surprise in an airport of this size. The overall dining footprint is small, so arrive a few minutes earlier than you think you need to; queues can build quickly during peak summer departures when the whole region seems to be heading somewhere at once.

Highlights
Okanagan Wine Airside
Sip certified VQA wines from nearby valley vineyards before your flight departs.
Local Charcuterie Boards
Regional cheeses and cured meats showcase the best of BC's artisan food scene.
Fresh Fruit Pastries
Baked goods feature Okanagan peaches and apples in deliciously seasonal preparations.
Smoked Salmon Bagels
A Pacific Northwest classic done right, perfect for an unhurried morning departure.
Specialty Coffee Done Well
Expect genuinely good flat whites and espresso drinks, rare for a smaller airport.
Summer Crowd Strategy
Arrive early during peak season — dining queues fill fast when the valley travels.
Generated by AI · cached · verify before travel
TravelerPulse profile

Okanagan's gateway airport serving British Columbia's interior.

Opened
1946
Location
Kelowna, Canada
Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is the primary commercial airport serving Kelowna and the broader Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. It is operated by the City of Kelowna and consistently ranks among the busiest airports in British Columbia, handling well over one million passengers annually. The airport offers direct connections to major Canadian hubs including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, as well as select seasonal routes to destinations in the United States and Mexico. Its growth reflects the region's expanding tourism, wine industry, and population base. Situated approximately 15 kilometres north of downtown Kelowna, the airport has undergone several expansion and renovation projects in recent decades to accommodate increasing passenger traffic and improve facilities.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal with domestic and limited international processing facilities, including customs and immigration for transborder flights.
Getting to & from
Ground transportation options include rental cars, taxis, ride-hailing services, and a Regional Transit System bus route connecting the airport to downtown Kelowna.
Airlines here
Major carriers serving YLW include Air Canada, WestJet, and Flair Airlines, with seasonal service from carriers such as Sunwing and Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Notable facts
  • ›YLW is the third-busiest airport in British Columbia after Vancouver and Victoria.
  • ›The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 1,125 feet (343 metres) above sea level.
  • ›It is owned and operated by the City of Kelowna, making it municipally run.
  • ›The airport handled over 1.8 million passengers in pre-pandemic peak years.
  • ›A major terminal expansion project was completed in 2019 to increase capacity and modernize facilities.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (11 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

YLW → YVR4N · 737
YLW → YXY4N · 737
YLW → YXC8P · BE1
YLW → YXS9M · BEH
YLW → YVRAC · DH3 CRJ
YLW → LAXAC · CR7
YLW → YYCAC · DH3 CRJ
YLW → SEAAS · DH4
YLW → YQFJ3 · J31
YLW → LAXUA · CR7
YLW → YYCWS · 73W
YLW → YYZWS · 736
YLW → YEGWS · 73W
YLW → YVRWS · 73W DH4
YLW → YYJWS · DH4
Hotels near YLW

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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via YLW? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Canada from official government sources.

Kelowna International Airport
Encyclopaedia

Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or 6.2 nautical miles northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia on Highway 97.

Read full article on Wikipedia
About on Wikipedia

Kelowna International Airport

International airport in British Columbia, Canada

Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or 6.2 nautical miles northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia on Highway 97.

Read on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA. May be out of date — verify important details.

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