Frequently Asked Questions
YCD is open from 3:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Our Customer Care team is on duty from 4 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. to assist you.
Our Security team is on duty 24 hours per day.
We recommend you arrive a minimum of 90 minutes before departure time. Always check with your airline. You need to allow time to check baggage and pick up your boarding pass.
Air Canada Check-in/Boarding Times
WestJet Check-in Options and Information
Nanaimo Airport offers short-term and long-term vehicle parking. Accessible parking is also available. We use the “pay by plate” system through the HONK app or cash and credit card so please remember your license plate number. For maps and rates, review our parking information.
It is always best to take your gifts unwrapped. Otherwise, our security team may have to unwrap them for screening purposes. Security needs to see the contents.
For a current list of acceptable carry-on items, as well as checked baggage, visit the Canadian Air Transport Authority website or call 1-888-294-2202.
Contact your airline for specific rules and information on packaging and paperwork. Learn more about what you can bring on board.
Book or change a reservation by contacting the airlines directly:
Air Canada: 1-800-247-2262
WestJet: 1-888-937-8538
The baggage allowance, as well as the amount you may carry on the aircraft, may vary from one airline to another. Check with your airline.
Nanaimo Airport has a year-round weather reliability rating of more than 99%, thanks to our Instrument Landing System (ILS) and high intensity landing lights.
Always contact your airline for updated flight information. You can view current weather conditions on the Nanaimo Airport Webcam. Unless flight delays are verified by your airline, it is best to arrive at the airport at the scheduled time.
Your choices include the Nanaimo Airporter Shuttle, AC Taxi and Yellow Cab (reservations are recommended), and transit bus Monday through Saturday. Car rentals are available in the Airport Terminal Building from Budget and National. Learn more information about transportation options.
You may travel with your pet as long as you follow your airline’s guidelines on the weight and size of the pet and its travel case. You will also need to register your pet in advance for travel on the same flight as yours.
For additional information, visit our flying with pets page.
If you’ve arrived at YCD and your baggage is not on the carousel, it is important that you notify an agent at the check-in counter immediately. The agent will ask you to provide your contact information as well as a detailed description of your baggage. The agent will prepare an incident report. For more information, please visit the airline’s website.
Travelling within Canada
If you have Canadian identification, you can show one of these documents at the boarding gate:
- One piece of photo identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government with your full name and date of birth.
- Two pieces of identification issued by a Canadian federal, provincial or territorial government. Both must have your name and at least one must have your full name and date of birth.
Any ID you show must be valid. It can’t be expired.
Travelling outside of Canada
At the boarding gate for an international flight to/from Canada, you can show one piece of valid identification issued by a government authority with your photo, full name, date of birth and gender. Permitted ID includes:
- A passport issued by your country of citizenship or nationality or
- NEXUS card or
- Any document referred to in subsection 50(1) or 52(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.
Learn more about documents needed for travel.
Nanaimo Airport has 24-hour security on site seven days a week. Our Security team makes regular patrols of our property.
For a full list of the airport’s accessibility features, please visit our accessibility page.
