Victoria Airport Code: What Do YYJ and CYYJ Mean?

By The BestFlightHotelDeals editors · Published 2026-09-26 · 3 sources

The primary airport code for Victoria International Airport is YYJ under the International Air Transport Association (IATA) system. For flight planning, navigation, and air traffic control records, the airport uses the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) code CYYJ. Both codes identify the main commercial aerodrome serving Victoria and the surrounding capital region on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

What Are the IATA and ICAO Codes for Victoria?

When booking airline tickets, reviewing flight itineraries, or checking luggage tags, passengers encounter the three-letter IATA identifier YYJ. The International Air Transport Association assigns three-letter codes to streamline commercial ticketing, baggage routing, and passenger reservations worldwide.

In contrast, aviation authorities, meteorologists, and pilots refer to the aerodrome using the four-letter ICAO designator CYYJ. The International Civil Aviation Organization uses four-character codes for air traffic operations, flight plan filings, and official airport weather reporting. In Canada, primary civil aerodromes typically pair the national prefix letter C with their established three-letter IATA identifier, making CYYJ the direct operational counterpart to YYJ.

Where Is Victoria International Airport Located?

Victoria International Airport sits on the Saanich Peninsula, roughly 22 kilometres (14 miles) or 12 nautical miles north-northwest of downtown Victoria, as recorded in reference documentation for Victoria International Airport. Following the regional road network, driving to the terminal covers approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) north of Victoria.

Public bus transportation connects to the passenger terminal through the Victoria Regional Transit System. Scheduled local routes 87 and 88 provide direct service to the airport terminal, linking air passengers with regional transit connections across the peninsula. If you plan to leave a car at the facility, consult our guide to Victoria Airport Parking Fees, Lot Rules, and Rates.

Which Airlines Operate Flights Out of YYJ?

Scheduled commercial carriers provide both mainline and regional air service from the passenger terminal at Victoria International Airport. Airlines operating regular domestic service include Air Canada, WestJet, and Pacific Coastal Airline.

Transborder flights connecting Victoria to the United States are operated by Alaska Airlines, which provides direct flights to its hub in Washington State. Delta Air Lines formerly operated three daily flights between Victoria and Seattle before ending that service permanently in September 2019, which left Alaska Airlines as the sole carrier providing non-stop flights on that cross-border route. Fliers planning a trip across the border can review our guide on Flights from Victoria BC to Seattle: Routes and Fares.

What Non-Stop Destinations Can You Fly to From YYJ?

Scheduled departures from YYJ link Vancouver Island directly to major Canadian metropolitan centers, regional airports, and seasonal leisure destinations:

• Vancouver (YVR): Frequent daily shuttle flights connect Victoria to Vancouver International Airport. The flight lasts roughly 15 minutes across the Strait of Georgia, giving travellers fast access to a major hub with global flight networks.
• Western Canada: Non-stop domestic flights connect YYJ directly to Calgary (YYC) and Edmonton (YEG), alongside regional services reaching smaller communities in British Columbia and the Yukon. If you are comparing domestic routes within the province, review our guide on Cheap Flights from Victoria to Kelowna: Airfare Guide.
• Eastern Canada: Passengers can book direct transcontinental flights to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Ottawa (YOW). In addition, seasonal non-stop service operates to Montreal (YUL) during the summer months.
• United States: Non-stop international flights link Victoria directly to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
• Mexico leisure destinations: During the winter season, spanning from late autumn to early spring, airlines provide direct seasonal flights connecting Victoria to resort destinations in Mexico.

How Do Customs and US Preclearance Work at YYJ?

Victoria International Airport is an official airport of entry classified by Nav Canada and staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Stationed border officers process arriving international flights carrying up to 120 passengers under standard arrival procedures, or up to 450 passengers when travellers are cleared from the aircraft in sequential stages.

Passengers travelling to the United States should note that Victoria International Airport does not feature United States border preclearance facilities. Travellers departing from YYJ clear US customs upon arrival at their American destination. Alternatively, many passengers fly across to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) first, where full US preclearance facilities are available to clear customs before continuing on onward transborder flights.

What Is the Airport Improvement Fee at YYJ?

Commercial passengers departing from Victoria International Airport are charged an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF). As of April 2024, the fee is set at $25.00 per departing passenger. Most airlines automatically include this mandatory local fee within the final fare calculation when issuing an airline ticket.