Also known as: Kelowna Airport, YLW Airport, Kelowna YLW.
YLW · CYLW · Kelowna
Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is the airport for Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. The City of Kelowna owns and runs it, and it handled about 2.3 million passengers in 2025, making it one of the busiest airports in Canada.
WestJet and Air Canada fly the most routes, linking Kelowna with Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montréal, while Porter flies to Toronto and Ottawa, Flair to Edmonton, and Pacific Coastal and Central Mountain Air to smaller cities across British Columbia. Alaska Airlines flies to Seattle, and seasonal WestJet flights reach Phoenix and Mexican beach resorts such as Cancún and Puerto Vallarta.
All flights use one terminal. A new departures lounge and a larger security checkpoint opened in January 2026, and later phases are planned to rebuild the arrivals area.
The airport sits beside Highway 97 in the north of Kelowna, about 11.5 km (7 miles) northeast of downtown and next to the UBC Okanagan campus. From here most travelers head to downtown Kelowna and the lakeshore, to the wineries of West Kelowna and Lake Country, or north toward Vernon, with Big White Ski Resort in the hills to the east.
City of Kelowna
About 2.3 million in 2025
One, 16/34, 2,755 m (9,039 ft)
1947; scheduled commercial flights since 1958
Domestic flights arrive straight into the terminal with no passport check, and you walk to baggage claim on the ground floor. If you fly in from the US, Mexico or another country, you clear Canadian customs and immigration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) first; one of the three baggage carousels is set aside for these flights.
Most visitors flying to Canada need an eTA or a visa, while US citizens need only a valid passport, so check before you travel.
Kelowna has one terminal, so after baggage claim you exit into the arrivals area. Car rental counters for Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz are in the terminal. Taxis, limousines and licensed shuttles wait at the curb outside the front of the terminal, and Uber and Uride pick up at the north end, outside arrivals. The Ebus intercity coach stops at meeting area 7 near the south entrance and must be booked ahead. Local buses stop on Airport Way rather than at the terminal door.
Kelowna is on Pacific Time and uses the Canadian dollar.
A taxi or pre-booked car is the simplest way into Kelowna, since local buses do not stop at the terminal door.
Taxis and limousines wait at the curb at the front of the terminal, including wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Several local companies serve the airport, and the drive to downtown Kelowna usually takes about 20 minutes.
Uber and Uride pick up at the north end of the terminal, outside the arrivals area. Wait times can be longer when several flights land together.
A pre-booked car meets you on arrival and goes door to door to downtown Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country or the ski resorts, which suits families, groups and late arrivals.
In winter, licensed shuttle companies run to Big White, SilverStar and other ski resorts from the curb outside the terminal. Most must be booked directly with the operator in advance.
Ebus links the airport with other Okanagan towns and the Lower Mainland from meeting area 7, near the south entrance. Seats must be booked ahead.
Buses stop on Airport Way near long-term lot B, not at the terminal, and run to the UBC Okanagan exchange, where you change for the 97X RapidBus to downtown. Service is limited in the evenings and on weekends.
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The single terminal handles all domestic, US and international flights. A new departures lounge with an expanded security checkpoint opened in January 2026, and arrivals from the US and other countries clear Canadian customs in the arrivals area.
Air Canada Main Terminal
Montréal, Toronto (seasonal), Vancouver (seasonal)
Air Canada Express Main Terminal
Calgary, Vancouver
Air Canada Rouge Main Terminal
Toronto, Vancouver
Air North Main Terminal
Vancouver
Alaska Airlines Main Terminal
Seattle, Los Angeles (seasonal)
Central Mountain Air Main Terminal
Prince George, Vancouver
Flair Airlines Main Terminal
Edmonton, Calgary (seasonal), Vancouver (seasonal)
Pacific Coastal Airlines Main Terminal
Comox, Cranbrook, Nanaimo, Prince George, Victoria
Porter Airlines Main Terminal
Ottawa, Toronto
WestJet Main Terminal
Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Cancún (seasonal), Mazatlán (seasonal), Phoenix (seasonal), Puerto Vallarta (seasonal), San José del Cabo (seasonal), Winnipeg (seasonal)
WestJet Encore Main Terminal
Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Regina (seasonal), Saskatoon (seasonal), Seattle (seasonal)
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.
Ellison Field Taphouse and Tim Hortons are in the public area before security.
White Spot, Subway, Tim Hortons and the Vintners Exchange wine bar are in the departures lounge.
Skyway News is before security; Okanagan Gifts, Okanagan Duty Free and the Okanagan Estate Wine Cellar are after security. Duty free opens 90 minutes before international and US flights.
A parenting room for nursing and diaper changing is in the departures lounge, beside the exit doors.
A play area for children is in the terminal.
Volunteer ambassadors help passengers throughout the terminal every day of the year, and therapy dogs visit the terminal.
Relief areas are outside the center terminal entrance before security and near the washrooms across from the boarding gates after security.
Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz have counters in the terminal.
Airport Administration keeps items found in the terminal for 30 days; call 250-807-4300.
Tell your airline in advance if you need help; airlines provide wheelchair service from check-in to the aircraft. Curbside help with wheelchairs, baggage or guiding can be pre-arranged, then requested by calling Security on 250-212-6955 on arrival.
Wheelchairs are available at airline check-in counters or from an Airport Ambassador, and the terminal has automatic doors, elevators, lowered check-in ledges and accessible washrooms. Electric carts are not offered.
Washrooms have braille signage, ATMs have tactile markers, and baggage carousels have start-up alarms and lights. Security staff can locate TTY phones, and sign language help may be arranged through Airport Administration.
Animal relief areas are outside the center entrance before security and near the gate washrooms after security, so you do not need to leave and re-clear screening.
YLW and the Canucks Autism Network created a resource kit for travelers with autism and their families, available on the airport website.
Open 24 hours, closest to the terminal, with accessible spaces in the nearest rows. Pay by tap, card or app, or at the cashier booth.
Open 24 hours for longer trips, with accessible spaces in the nearest rows and a courtesy shuttle on request.
Curbside valet spaces are directly across from the arrivals entrance; book ahead through the airport.
A free waiting lot at Airport Plaza off Airport Way for drivers meeting arriving passengers, with four EV charging stations.
Kelowna International Airport is about 11.5 km (7 miles) northeast of downtown Kelowna, beside Highway 97. The drive to downtown usually takes about 20 minutes by taxi or pre-booked car, longer at rush hour. Local buses involve a change at the UBC Okanagan exchange and take longer.
Kelowna has one terminal for all domestic, US and international flights. A new departures lounge with an expanded security checkpoint opened in January 2026. Arriving passengers all use the same arrivals area, and flights from outside Canada clear customs there before baggage claim.
WestJet and Air Canada fly the most routes, to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montréal and other Canadian cities. Porter flies to Toronto and Ottawa, Flair to Edmonton, Pacific Coastal and Central Mountain Air within British Columbia, and Alaska Airlines to Seattle. WestJet adds seasonal flights to Phoenix and Mexico.
Yes. Alaska Airlines flies to Seattle, and WestJet runs seasonal flights to Phoenix and Mexican resorts such as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and San José del Cabo. There is no US preclearance, so passengers flying to the US clear US border checks on arrival there, and arriving passengers clear Canadian customs at Kelowna.
Most visa-exempt visitors flying to Canada need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before boarding, and others need a visitor visa. US citizens need only a valid passport, and US green card holders need their passport and green card but no eTA. You then clear customs with the CBSA on arrival.
Taxis and limousines wait at the curb at the front of the terminal, outside arrivals. Several Kelowna companies serve the airport, and wheelchair-accessible taxis are available. A taxi goes door to door to downtown Kelowna, the lakeshore hotels and West Kelowna, which is easiest with luggage.
Yes. Uber and the local app Uride both pick up at Kelowna airport, at the north end of the terminal outside the arrivals area. Follow the signs after baggage claim. Wait times can be longer when several flights land together or late in the evening.
Not directly from the terminal door. Kelowna Regional Transit buses stop on Airport Way near long-term lot B and run to the UBC Okanagan exchange, where you change to the 97X RapidBus for downtown. Service is limited in the evenings and on weekends, so most visitors take a taxi or pre-booked car.
Big White Ski Resort is in the mountains east of Kelowna, about an hour's drive from the airport. In the ski season, licensed shuttle companies run from the curb outside the terminal and must be booked ahead. A private transfer or rental car are the other options.
No airline or pay-per-use lounge is listed at Kelowna airport. The departures lounge opened in January 2026 has seating, a White Spot restaurant and lounge, the Vintners Exchange wine bar, and shops selling Okanagan wine and gifts, all after security.
Kelowna airport has a Short-Term Lot next to the terminal, a Long-Term Lot with a courtesy shuttle on request, and curbside valet parking across from arrivals. Drivers meeting a flight can wait free in the Cell Phone Waiting Area at Airport Plaza, which also has four EV charging stations.
Kelowna is on Pacific Time, the same as Vancouver and Seattle, and one hour behind Calgary and Edmonton. Travelers arriving from Alberta or eastern Canada should set their watches back. Canada uses the Canadian dollar, and cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere.
Yes, in practice. Kelowna International Airport, code YLW, is the main airport for the central Okanagan Valley, serving Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Vernon. Penticton in the south Okanagan has its own smaller airport, YYF, so check the code on your ticket.
We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.
Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.
Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.
Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.
Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.
Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.
Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.
Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.
You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.
PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.
Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.
During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.
Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.
No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.
Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.
Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.
Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.
All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.
We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.
Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.
Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.