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Kelowna International Airport
Kelowna, Canada
Kelowna International Airport
Okanagan Valley's primary gateway serving British Columbia's interior.
- ›Kelowna International Airport is the largest airport by passenger volume in British Columbia outside of Metro Vancouver.
- ›The airport is owned and operated by the City of Kelowna, making it municipally owned.
- ›YLW sits at an elevation of approximately 1,421 feet (433 metres) above sea level.
- ›The airport serves as an important gateway to Okanagan wine country, attracting significant tourism traffic.
- ›Passenger numbers surpassed 2 million annually in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kelowna International Airport, located in the heart of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley, has served the region since the 1940s and today ranks among Canada's busiest mid-sized airports. It connects this wine-country destination to major Canadian hubs and select seasonal routes, supporting both leisure and business travel. The airport's manageable size makes it easy to navigate while reflecting the relaxed, scenic character of the surrounding region.
- Main Terminal — The single integrated terminal handles all domestic and international arrivals and departures with a compact, traveller-friendly layout.
- Taxi and rideshare services available at the arrivals curb
- Kelowna Regional Transit System bus routes connecting to downtown
- Car rental agencies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and National on-site
- Hotel and resort shuttle services by pre-arrangement
- Private limousine and charter transportation services
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort
- Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Kelowna Airport
- Holiday Inn Express Kelowna
- Accent Inns Kelowna
- Sandman Hotel Kelowna
Inside the terminal, travellers will find a modest selection of cafés, a pub-style restaurant, and grab-and-go options catering to pre-flight needs. The Okanagan region just outside the airport is renowned for world-class wineries, farm-to-table restaurants, and craft breweries within a short drive. Visitors with extra time before departure are encouraged to explore downtown Kelowna's vibrant dining scene along Bernard Avenue.
- Arrive at least 90 minutes before domestic flights, as security queues can build during summer and ski season peaks.
- Book car rentals well in advance for summer and winter holiday periods, as availability tightens quickly in this resort region.
- The airport sits at a higher elevation with variable weather; check road conditions in winter before heading to mountain resort areas.
- Okanagan wine and fruit products make popular local purchases — check liquid restrictions before packing bottles in carry-on baggage.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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Kelowna International Airport is a Canadian airport located approximately 10 minutes or 6.2 nautical miles northeast of Kelowna, British Columbia on Highway 97.
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