Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has unveiled a series of upgrades aimed at preventing a repeat of the travel chaos experienced during last year’s holiday season. In December 2020, a winter storm caused disruptions throughout Metro Vancouver, leading to delayed or cancelled flights and passengers stranded at the airport. YVR has since invested $40 million in technology, staff, and equipment to improve its resilience and operational efficiency.
YVR’s president and CEO, Tamara Vrooman, explained that the issue was not in accurately forecasting the weather but in managing the traffic congestion caused by the storm. The airport has made significant changes based on an after-action report and a public survey conducted to identify areas for improvement.
The $40 million investment includes the acquisition of 19 new heavy equipment pieces such as trucks and snowplows to handle irregular operations caused by extreme weather events. Additionally, YVR has developed a digital twin of the airport, a virtual model that provides real-time information on the location of aircraft, equipment, and passenger flow. This model will be shared with all airport partners, enabling better coordination across different departments.
Changes have also been made to aircraft gating and movement protocols. YVR now has the authority to move airlines’ aircraft if needed, and airlines must demonstrate their ability to leave a gate within 30 minutes. Furthermore, additional staff will be stationed on the airfield and inside the airport to ensure smoother operations.
Passengers traveling through YVR during December, which is expected to see up to two million passengers, will have access to a new journey mapping platform and an upgraded airport news page. These enhancements will provide real-time storm communications and enable passengers to make informed decisions.
While YVR cannot guarantee that winter weather won’t impact flight schedules, the airport aims to provide better communication, allocate resources more efficiently, and build redundancy into its operations to minimize delays and congestion.
The upgrades come as YVR anticipates its busiest travel days to be on December 20, 21, and 22. The airport is committed to ensuring a smoother and more seamless travel experience for all passengers during this period.
With these improvements in place, YVR aims to avoid a repeat of the travel chaos witnessed last year, providing a more resilient and efficient airport operation to meet the challenges posed by extreme weather events.
