Flying Into Canada: The Ultimate Guide To Canadian Airports

Canada is a vast and beautiful country that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and even as far north as the Artic. It has become a popular tourist destination over recent years, which has encouraged the government to build more airports in order to make flying into Canada more seamless.

Canada offers 3 major airports: Pearson, which is in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. There are also many smaller regional gateways that can help to get you where you want to go. In this post, I’ll provide my guide to the best airports to fly into for each part of Canada, what makes them unique, and the odd insider tip which will hopefully help you navigate the airport chaos a little bit.

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Along with knowing everything there is to know about visiting Canada, choosing the right airport to fly into is absolutely crucial in ensuring your stay is smooth and efficient.

Flying Into Eastern Canada

Flying into Eastern Canada is the most popular Canadian air hub, as it’s home to Canada’s largest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

As Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport is the main gateway for most international visitors. Located about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto, it connects to nearly every major city in the world.

From Pearson, you can easily explore:

• Southern Ontario, including Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Collingwood, and Muskoka, although a rental car will be needed
• Ottawa, Kingston, and even Montreal by train or short flight.

Pearson is also a hub for Air Canada, located in Terminal 1, and WestJet, located in Terminal 3. If you need connecting flights, to travel to other parts of Canada, it will be one of these airlines, or their smaller affiliates, which you’ll need.

If you haven’t flown into Pearson, it’s important to warn you that it’s a very large and chaotic airport. It can be quite stressful! Of all the airports I’ve used (including Heathrow, Los Angeles and Atlanta), Pearson has been my least favourite – so be warned!

READ NEXT: Surviving Airport Chaos

Transportation To Downtown Toronto

Depending on the time of your arrival, there are several hotels within the area, most of which provide airport transfer services. However, if you want to go directly into Toronto, there are also a few options:

Alternative Ontario Airports:

Ontario is home to many smaller airports which are perfect for domestic or short-haul flights.

• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ): Perfect for domestic or short-haul U.S. flights, right on Toronto’s waterfront.
• John Munro Airport: Is located in Hamilton and offers frequent flights to Western Canada, at a cheap rate
• Region of Waterloo International Airport: Is located in Kitchener and also offers reduced rate domestic flights, as well as occasional flights to the Caribbean
• London International Airport: is known to be a small, relaxed, and less popular airport offering domestic flights to Toronto, and Calgary, as well as international flights to Cuba, Cancun, and the Dominican Republic
• Ottawa International Airport (YOW): Convenient for exploring Canada’s capital and the Ottawa Valley.

Air Canada And Landline

Air Canada has teamed up with Landline which is available at John Munro and the Waterloo Region Airport. If flying out of Toronto, you can leave directly from either one of these smaller airports by Landline.

For departures, the bus is typically scheduled together with your flight. You can also arrange this service to Kitchener or Hamilton, on arrival as well as long as you are flying Air Canada. The bus is treated as an extended fare to your flight and will show as a connection on your ticket.

I have used Landline from John Munro which made my trip into Toronto much more enjoyable. The bus is well equipped with televisions and comfortable seats. It’s an extension of Air Canada airline.

The only draw-back to using Landline is that it leaves both Pearson and the smaller airports at designated times throughout the day. This can lead to long wait times before the bus arrives or departs Pearson.

Flying Into Quebec

The main airport in the Province of Quebec is situated in Montreal. Many international flights arriving from and departing to Pearson will have short lay-overs at the Trudeau International Airport.

Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

Montréal–Trudeau serves as the main hub for Quebec and Eastern Canada. It’s well-connected to Europe, the U.S., and destinations across the Americas. The airport is about 20 minutes from downtown Montréal, which is well-known for its food scene, festivals, and French flair.

Even though Montreal is one of Canada’s largest airports, it’s much easier to navigate and way less chaotic than what Pearson is.

From Montréal, you can reach:

• Quebec City (3-hour drive or 1-hour flight)
• The Laurentians for skiing and nature
• Eastern Townships for wineries and charming villages

Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)

For those wanting direct access to Quebec’s capital and the province’s historic heart, this smaller airport is ideal. It has seasonal international flights and great domestic connections.

Flying Into Atlantic Canada

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) – Nova Scotia

The Halifax airport is the largest in Atlantic Canada and serves as the primary entry point for exploring Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and parts of Newfoundland. I haven’t personally used this airport, but my sister frequently flies out of Halifax to Spain, Mexico, and Milan.

From here, you can easily access:

• Halifax’s vibrant waterfront
• The Cabot Trail in Cape Breton
• Lunenburg, Peggy’s Cove, and Bay of Fundy

Halifax also has direct flights from London, Frankfurt, Boston, and major Canadian cities.

Other options in Atlantic Canada:

• St. John’s International Airport (YYT) – Gateway to Newfoundland & Labrador
• Charlottetown Airport (YYG) – Perfect for visiting Prince Edward Island
• Fredericton (YFC) and Moncton (YQM) – For New Brunswick’s charming river valleys and coastlines

Flying Into Western Canada

Vancouver is my favourite large Canadian airport to fly into. Even though it’s ranked as Canada’s second largest airport, it’s so easy to navigate and you can be in and out within 15 minutes.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – British Columbia

Consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world, Vancouver International is the ideal entry point to Western Canada. Located just 25 minutes from downtown, the airport is modern, efficient, and known for its Indigenous art and mountain views.

From YVR, you can reach:

• Whistler, Vancouver Island, and the Okanagan Valley
• Connections to Calgary, Banff, and the Rockies
• Cruise departures to Alaska

I recently flew into Vancouver, rented a car, and did a one week road trip through the Rocky Mountains. I’ve also flown into this airport for my cruise to Alaska. Both times, I found it extremely easy to navigate through the airport.

Alternative BC airports:

• Victoria International (YYJ): For Vancouver Island adventures
• Kelowna International (YLW): Perfect for wine country and lake vacations

Just One Tip: If you fly into Vancouver and want to visit Vancouver Island, you can either pre-book a seaplane or book a flight at the harbour to tak.e you over, rather than flying from Vancouver airport to Victoria International. The flight will be much more scenic and a bucket list experience.

Flying Into The Prairies

Calgary International Airport (YYC) – Alberta

Calgary’s airport is the main hub for exploring the Canadian Rockies. It’s your best choice for trips to:

• Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper National Parks
• Drumheller and its dinosaur-rich badlands
• Edmonton (just a 1-hour flight away)

YYC is easy to navigate and offers many direct U.S. and European connecting flights, making it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

Just One Tip: If you plan on making your home base in Calgary, there are a variety of tours which will take you to Banff or Jasper, deep into the Canadian Rockies.

Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

Perfect for travellers heading north or exploring northern Alberta, Jasper, and Elk Island National Park. Edmonton’s airport also connects well to the Northwest Territories.

Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG) – Manitoba

Located in the center of the country, Winnipeg is great for cross-Canada travellers or those venturing into Churchill to see polar bears and beluga whales.

Flying Into Northern Canada

Canada’s North is remote but is still accessible by air. Flights often connect through hubs such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Ottawa.

Top northern airports include:

• Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) – Gateway to the Yukon and Klondike Gold Rush history
• Yellowknife Airport (YZF) – For Aurora Borealis viewing in the Northwest Territories
• Iqaluit Airport (YFB) – Serves Nunavut, reachable mainly from Ottawa or Montreal

Flying within Canada can be both easy or a pain in the you know what 🙂 . Let me explain.

When Canadians fly from one area of the Country to another, we often take what are known as budget airlines. We currently have Porter and Flare, which operate out of all major airports, as well as the smaller airports. These flights are extremely cost-efficient, but they also come with a downside. Often the flight times aren’t convenient. Departures and arrivals are typically late evening or first thing in the morning (or what I like to call middle of the night).

When booking one of these “cost efficient” flights, keep in mind that there are no extras allowed. This means that there is often an up-charge for pre-selecting seats, and both checked and carry-on luggage.

Notwithstanding the down-side to these budget airlines, many Canadians will still opt to use them – especially in Ontario. We will do anything to avoid having to fly out of Toronto.

Tips For Finding Cheaper Domestic Flights

PIN FLYING INTO CANADA