On July 22, 1931, when the Vancouver International Airport (then known as Sea Island Airport) officially opened its doors, the airport consisted of a single runway, a small wood-framed two-storey administration building, two concrete hangars, a floatplane harbour and a control tower.
Today, YVR (the IATA abbreviation code for the airport) is Canada’s second busiest airport and a global industry leader—recognized for innovation and growth, while serving the community and the economy that supports it.
Over the past 90 years, YVR has achieved many milestones and as such, the Vancouver Airport Authority is pleased to share an interactive timeline on its website to bring the airport’s history to life. While it is almost impossible to narrow its 90-year history to 90 minutes, the timeline includes terminal expansions, environmental achievements, route launches, community partnerships and chronicles its important friendship with Musqueam, the territory on which YVR resides.
As the airport community reflects on 90 years, a special thank you is extended to its business partners and all employees for their contributions and ongoing dedication to make British Columbia an air travel gateway to the world.
To see the YVR timeline of 90 years in 90 moments, visit yvr.ca/en/blog/2021/yvr-is-90.
