YVR has been around for nearly a century now and there’s lots of history behind it. But did you know lots of people go there just to watch planes? I’m sure you probably knew that already but did you know that there’s also a bunch of history behind it as well. The airport and the hobby of watching planes have grown a lot over the years in Vancouver. There’s so much to say about the history of Vancouver International Airport, YVR for short. And the whole plane spotting scene down here in the lower mainland. You’ve probably seen those people who geek out when they see a nice plane landing at one of Canada’s biggest airports with their cameras at the fence line, right? Let me break it down for you.
Okay, so YVR didn’t always look like the extremely busy international hub like it is today. Back in the early 1930s, Vancouver was still developing, and the need for a major airport was becoming more and more obvious. People were flying more, especially between Vancouver and Seattle, and float planes were popular along the coast. The original airport site was on Lulu Island, Richmond, to be precise. The area was chosen because it was flat and surrounded by water, perfect for expanding runways.
The first terminal was pretty basic. Think of it as more of a shed compared to today’s modern airport. It officially opened in 1931, and there was this little airstrip that could handle smaller planes. It’s funny to imagine now because it was nothing like what we see today. We’re talking about early propeller planes, no jet engines yet. And it was mainly used for mail delivery and transporting goods rather than commercial flights.
Then, as air travel grew, so did YVR. By the 1940s, during World War II, the airport started getting some more serious attention. Canada needed a west coast base for military training and transporting troops. YVR became a pretty big place for this, and military planes started filling the runways. This period laid the blueprint for YVR to expand into a full-on international airport. Once the war was over, the infrastructure was already in place, so commercial airlines started just pouring in.
The real boom for YVR came post-war, though, when air travel became accessible to the general public. By the 1950s and 60s, YVR started to see some more long-haul flights, and the airport needed to expand again.
There was a huge demand for travel, especially between Canada, Asia, and Europe, which put YVR in a great spot geographically. This is when you start seeing the addition of larger runways and terminals, designed to handle the new generation of jet planes. Think about it, this was the jet plane era. Planes like the Boeing 707 and the DC-8 could fly longer distances, meaning YVR needed to accommodate more international traffic.
YVR’s transformation really accelerated in the 1980s. You might remember hearing about Expo 86, right? Well, that was a major turning point for the international airport. The world wanted to go to Vancouver for the Expo, and YVR needed to up its game. The airport underwent some pretty serious renovations to modernise and expand its facilities. The new international terminal opened in 1996, and it was a total game changer. Suddenly, YVR was competing with major global airports in terms of design, efficiency, and capacity.
And let’s not forget about the 2010 Winter Olympics. That was another huge moment for YVR. Vancouver was on the world stage again, and YVR had to handle a bunch of international visitors. They made even more upgrades to the airport, from the terminals to better transit access like the introduction of the SkyTrain station located at YVR.
Okay, so that was a quick rundown of YVR’s history. Now, let’s talk about planespotting, which is a huge hobby around the airport. Have you ever done it? Oh my goodness, it is so much fun. Planespotting is exactly what it sounds like, watching planes take off, land, or just taxi around the airport. People love capturing that perfect shot of an airplane in flight, especially rare or unusual planes. Vancouver, because of its position on the west coast, sees a lot of different air traffic, which makes it a hotspot for planespotters.
The planespotting community around YVR has really grown over the years. It’s one of the best airports in Canada for spotting because there are several great locations to watch the planes do their thing. One of the most famous spots is the Larry Berg Flight Path Park, just off the north runway.
It’s this cool little park with benches and a view of the planes landing right over your head. It’s named after Larry Berg, who was a long-serving CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority and played a major part in modernising the airport.
Another great place to spot is along Templeton Street or near the Canada Line SkyTrain station. You’ll see people with their cameras, some even with scanners to listen to air traffic control. It’s pretty organised. These planespotters will often wait for specific planes, like a Boeing 747 or an Airbus A380 (my favourite plane), which don’t come through YVR every day. And if you’re lucky, you’ll see some unique liveries, those custom-painted designs airlines sometimes do to celebrate special occasions or partnerships.
And it’s just outside too, there’s a great area for plane spotting inside the airport as well. It’s honestly kind of a hidden gem inside YVR as not a lot of people usually are in that area of the airport. This area is located on the top floor of the domestic terminal. You don’t even have to be a massive plane nerd, like myself, to enjoy the planes. It’s basically this observation deck with these huge windows that give you a perfect view of the runways. You can see planes taking off, landing, taxiing, the whole deal, all while you’re inside, nice and comfy.
Planespotting really took off as a hobby (pun intended) in the 1960s and 70s, but it’s evolved a lot since then. Back then, people would just note down the tail numbers of aircraft. These days, it’s a full-blown photography scene. Social media has been huge for this. There are entire Instagram accounts, Tiktok accounts, YouTube channels, and websites dedicated to planespotting at YVR. It’s honestly kind of fascinating to see how serious some people get about it. They’ll track flights online and know exactly when and where a specific aircraft will be landing.
YVR’s mix of planes makes it especially interesting for spotters. You get everything from tiny Dash 8s flying local routes to the massive Boeing 777s and 787s on long-haul international flights. And since YVR is a hub for Asian and Pacific flights, you’ll see airlines from Japan, Korea, China, and even Fiji. Some of the largest planes in the world come through YVR, like the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 747-8. Watching one of those giant planes take off is definitely a sight everyone needs to see at least once in their life, especially when you’re standing so close to the runway.
One of the best times to spot rare planes at YVR is during special events or emergencies. Every now and then, you’ll get diverted flights, military planes, or even private jets coming in for high-profile events. When Air Force One landed for an official visit back in 1997
#ThrowbackThursday Air Force One at YVR circa 1997: pic.twitter.com/MvCIINKby1
— YVR (@yvrairport) January 30, 2014
or when the Antonov An-225, the largest plane in the world, came through for a cargo mission, it was a huge event for planespotters.
#ThrowbackThursday Air Force One at YVR circa 1997: pic.twitter.com/MvCIINKby1
— YVR (@yvrairport) January 30, 2014
It’s a combination of patience, knowledge, and luck, really.
But you know, it’s not just about the big planes. Some people love spotting the smaller regional aircraft or helicopters that fly in and out of the south terminal. Harbour Air, which operates seaplanes, is also a big part of the aviation scene here in Vancouver. Planespotting at YVR is more than just a hobby, it’s almost like a competitive hobby for some people. You’re constantly trying to spot something new, something rare, or just trying to get that perfect shot.
So yeah, whether you’re a hardcore planespotter or just someone who enjoys watching planes now and then, YVR is one of the best places to do it in Canada. And with its rich history and constant growth, there’s always something new to see. You should definitely check it out sometime, grab your camera, head to the airport, and see what flies by.