Abbotsford International Airport
Encyclopedia
Abbotsford International Airport is located in the City of Abbotsford
, British Columbia
, Canada
, 2.2 NM southwest of the city centre.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
by NAV CANADA
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
. CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation
aircraft with no more than 15 passengers
The airport is the second largest airport in the Lower Mainland
after Vancouver International Airport
(YVR), and is the only other airport to host major airlines and functions as a reliever for YVR. Otherwise, Abbotsford airport caters mostly to the general aviation community.
In 2010, YXX was Canada's 19th busiest airport by aircraft movements, with 102,128 movements,. 503,693 passengers passed through Abbotsford International Airport in 2008.
airport. No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School operated from this location. No 5 Operational Conversion Unit was split between Abbotsford and Boundary Bay Airport
.
Following World War II
, the airport was largely used for general aviation
and as a secondary field to Vancouver International Airport. Prior to the use of instrument landing system
s, fog could make Vancouver unusable and flights had to land at Abbotsford.
The airport became the home to Skyways Air Services and Conair Aviation in the 1960s. Abbotsford is still the primary base for Conair's fleet of water bombers
.
Abbotsford became a jet passenger airport in June 1997 with the start of scheduled service to Alberta by WestJet
. Prior, Airspeed Aviation
had been the exclusive operator offering regional service to Victoria, B.C. since 1986. Canada 3000
was the first airline to offer transcontinental service from Abbotsford to Toronto in June 2000. Abbotsford's first international charter flight was to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in December 2003 by tour operator Transat Holidays.
Since 2000 many airlines and tour operators have come and gone from Abbotsford, including Air Canada
, Air Canada Tango
, Air Canada Jazz
, Air North
, Canada 3000
, Central Mountain Air
, Helijet
, Jetsgo
, Signature Vacations, Zoom Airlines
, Harmony Airways
, Peace Air
and ZIP Air.
held in August. As one of Canadas largest airshows, it draws airplane enthusiasts from all over Western Canada and Northwestern United States. The static display allows people to get up close and personal with many of the exhibits.
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, 2.2 NM southwest of the city centre.
The airport is classified as an airport of entry
Airport of Entry
An airport of entry is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. These services allow the airport to serve as an initial port of entry for foreign visitors arriving in a country.-Africa:-Americas:-Asia:...
by NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Border Services Agency
The Canada Border Services Agency is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border enforcement, immigration enforcement and customs services....
. CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft with no more than 15 passengers
The airport is the second largest airport in the Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
after Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
(YVR), and is the only other airport to host major airlines and functions as a reliever for YVR. Otherwise, Abbotsford airport caters mostly to the general aviation community.
In 2010, YXX was Canada's 19th busiest airport by aircraft movements, with 102,128 movements,. 503,693 passengers passed through Abbotsford International Airport in 2008.
History
Constructed as a British Commonwealth Air Training PlanBritish Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
airport. No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School operated from this location. No 5 Operational Conversion Unit was split between Abbotsford and Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport
Boundary Bay Airport is located beside Boundary Bay and east of Ladner in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, south of Vancouver and close to the U.S. border. The airport, which opened 11 July 1983, serves mostly general aviation and includes facilities for aircraft maintenance, flight training,...
.
Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport was largely used for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and as a secondary field to Vancouver International Airport. Prior to the use of instrument landing system
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
s, fog could make Vancouver unusable and flights had to land at Abbotsford.
The airport became the home to Skyways Air Services and Conair Aviation in the 1960s. Abbotsford is still the primary base for Conair's fleet of water bombers
Aerial firefighting
Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft and other aerial resources to combat wildfires. The types of aircraft used include fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Smokejumpers and rappellers are also classified as aerial firefighters, delivered to the fire by parachute from a variety of fixed-wing...
.
Abbotsford became a jet passenger airport in June 1997 with the start of scheduled service to Alberta by WestJet
WestJet
WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian low-cost carrier that provides scheduled and charter air service to 71 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, WestJet is currently the second largest Canadian air carrier, behind Air Canada, operating an average of...
. Prior, Airspeed Aviation
Airspeed Aviation
Airspeed Aviation was a small regional airline based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The airline was in operation since 1986 and was sold to Orca Airways at Vancouver International Airport on February 27, 2009, it specialized in flying between Abbotsford International Airport and Victoria...
had been the exclusive operator offering regional service to Victoria, B.C. since 1986. Canada 3000
Canada 3000
Canada 3000 Inc. was a Canadian discount charter airline offering domestic and international flights. It was the largest charter airline in the world at the time of its operation, with over 90 destinations worldwide, although it changed to scheduled service in 2000 after the Canadian Airlines and...
was the first airline to offer transcontinental service from Abbotsford to Toronto in June 2000. Abbotsford's first international charter flight was to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in December 2003 by tour operator Transat Holidays.
Since 2000 many airlines and tour operators have come and gone from Abbotsford, including Air Canada
Air Canada
Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
, Air Canada Tango
Air Canada Tango
Air Canada Tango was a low-cost branch of Air Canada, which was established in 2001 to offer no-frills service on some of Air Canada's routes and to reduce operating costs at the struggling main company...
, Air Canada Jazz
Air Canada Jazz
Jazz Aviation LP is a Canadian regional airline based at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield and Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chorus Aviation....
, Air North
Air North
Air North Charter and Training Ltd., operating as Air North, Yukon's Airline is a Canadian airline based in Whitehorse, Yukon. It operates scheduled passenger, charter, cargo and ground handling services throughout the Yukon, with flights to the Northwest Territories, Alaska, British Columbia, and...
, Canada 3000
Canada 3000
Canada 3000 Inc. was a Canadian discount charter airline offering domestic and international flights. It was the largest charter airline in the world at the time of its operation, with over 90 destinations worldwide, although it changed to scheduled service in 2000 after the Canadian Airlines and...
, Central Mountain Air
Central Mountain Air
Central Mountain Air Ltd. is a Canadian regional airline based in Smithers, British Columbia. It operates scheduled and charter services and transborder services...
, Helijet
HeliJet
Helijet International is a helicopter airline and charter service based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It operates scheduled services and has a charter division servicing the film, television, aerial tour and general charter markets, as well as air ambulance services...
, Jetsgo
Jetsgo
Jetsgo Corporation was a Canadian low-cost carrier based in the Saint-Laurent area of Montreal. Jetsgo served 19 destinations across Canada, 10 destinations in the United States, and 12 scheduled weekend-charter destinations in the Caribbean...
, Signature Vacations, Zoom Airlines
Zoom Airlines
Zoom Airlines Inc. was a Canadian low-fare scheduled transatlantic airline with its headquarters in the Place Bell Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario...
, Harmony Airways
Harmony Airways
Harmony Airways was an airline headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, a suburb of Vancouver. It operated holiday flights from Canada to Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada and Manchester...
, Peace Air
Peace Air
Peace Air was a Canadian regional airline that flew to destinations within the Canadian province of Alberta and to two destinations in eastern British Columbia. It covered niche markets including scheduled flights to smaller communities, freight and charter flights in northern Alberta. It was based...
and ZIP Air.
Airshow
It hosts the annual Abbotsford International AirshowAbbotsford International Airshow
The Abbotsford International Airshow is held annually on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August at Abbotsford International Airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada....
held in August. As one of Canadas largest airshows, it draws airplane enthusiasts from all over Western Canada and Northwestern United States. The static display allows people to get up close and personal with many of the exhibits.
Airlines, tour operators and destinations
External links
- Official website
- Page about this airport on COPA'sCanadian Owners and Pilots AssociationThe Canadian Owners and Pilots Association is a federally registered not-for-profit association that provides information and advocacy services for Canadian pilots who fly for non-commercial purposes...
Places to Fly airport directory