[SFUVancouver]

Vancouver International Airport - YVR - was named the best airport in North America by SkyTrax in their comprehensive survey of 7.8 million passengers of 95 nationalities.

http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/3789/yvrbestairportinnamz5.jpg

http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2007/Airport2007.htm

[Stingray2004]

While you're at it....

Vancouver International Voted Top Airport by Pilots

Vancouver Sun

Published: Wednesday, August 08, 2007

The Air Line Pilots Association has named Vancouver International Airport as its 2007 Airport of the Year.

The 60,000-member organization selected the airport for its efforts in engaging the pilot community in discussions and reviews of operational procedures and facility plans.

ALPA representative Bob Perkins noted the airport hosts an annual chief pilots meeting where airport stakeholders discuss funding requests and airfield improvements. It also has a website that provides pilots with information on airport activities and operations and an opportunity to provide feedback on important issues.

The ALPA represents pilots' interests at more than 200 commercial airports in the U.S. and Canada.

© 2007 CanWest

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Hmmmm... I wonder how Wrongway Feldman would have voted....:D

[vanhattan]

Way to go YVR. :banana: :cheers: I travel 100K + per year and I can objectively say that it is one of my all time favorite airports. Too bad not more airports share similar qualities.

[Rojo]

Nice airport! It was my first impression of Canada!

[giallo]

I've always liked our airport. The open spaces, large windows and lack of clutter gives it a nice vibe. It's a very calming place to arrive in after a long flight.

[mr.x]

I've always liked our airport. The open spaces, large windows and lack of clutter gives it a nice vibe. It's a very calming place to arrive in after a long flight.

I like our airport but I think it lacks space in several areas:



The international arrivals area is constantly crowded, and it'll get worse as airport traffic grows. It's a complete joke. They should've built the arrivals area four times bigger.
http://vancouversider.com/Arrival%20area%20International%20Airport.JPG+




There aren't enough customs gates right now.....imagine this place in the future. Even when all the gates are in operation by the customs officers, there can still be huge lineups that reach to the staircase.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/40098263_7d73ef3ed4.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/23/40098703_da942c08f9.jpg?v=0



The international check-ins area can be quite crowded and it can sometimes be difficult for people to walk along the concourse since the lines are blocking the pedestrian area. The area should've been at least 50% wider.
http://lambcutlet.org/albums/Vancouver_BC_to_Hawaii/In_Vancouver_International_Airport_and_queueing_up_for_the_Air_Canada_check-in_desks.sized.jpg
The domestic check-ins area also has the same problems.

[Nutterbug]

:previous: Who cares, just as long as there are Native sculptures, waterfalls and aquariums? ;)

[Delirium]

speaking of aquariums, here's a short video i found on youtube showing the new international wing (and creek). imo, yvr is great. best airport in canada hands down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHsgh36RTrY
things should improve further when the "link" building opens. that'll give more room for int'l and domestic travellers..

[vanman]

^Are there birds in the new terminal as well? I hear them chirping in the background of that video.

[mr.x]

^ LOL. i love their commentary on our airport, the guy looks at the stream and says "it's hard to imagine this is an airport".

[giallo]

That was the first time I've seen the new wing. Wow! That aquarium is amazing. Thanks for the youtube link, Del.

[deasine]

That's beautiful. I got to see it soon! It doesn't feel like an airport, like they said in the video.

[Delirium]

^Are there birds in the new terminal as well? I hear them chirping in the background of that video.

haha.. i was wondering the same thing! but i imagine it's just audio that's on playback similar to what they did for the "Pacific Passage" arrival in the int'l terminal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnhgIinaQVo

btw, has anyone seen this clip produced by YVR? it's pretty slick..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-07LsrxqMg

[vanman]

Holy Shit! I did not know the international arrivals area looked like that. I always had a vague idea from the Sun and what I've seen on the news but that looks friggin spectacular. The audio really adds to it as well, and that massive waterfall.

btw, has anyone seen this clip produced by YVR? it's pretty slick..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-07LsrxqMg

Very slick.

[raggedy13]

The bird noises are definitely audio recordings but still kind of a nice touch. In June I had to wait in the new international departures area for 5 hours since my flight was delayed. The aquarium was awesome and I could've just about stared at that the whole time. It is pretty neat as it has these water jets that simulate currents and every once in a while they shift and the kelp gets blown in a different direction and stuff like that. It's pretty impressive. Unfortunately the moon jelly tank wasn't done yet. The stream was quite nice too. There aren't any animals in it (aside from some fish sculptures) but I spent most of my time sitting next to it surrounded by various (fake) vegetation and just relaxed, listening to the running water and bird noises.

On my way back I didn't get to go through the new international arrivals area which is too bad because I saw lots of images of that huge suspended raven sculpture when I was there and really wanted to see it. It looks pretty awesome in that youtube video.

[SpongeG]

another video

zL40JCtFfKM