Yellowknife Airport (IATA: YZF, ICAO: CYZF) is located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The airport is part of the National Airports System, and is operated by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The airport has regular scheduled passenger service and a number of freight services. In 2007, the terminal handled 527,000 passengers.[6]

Yellowknife Airport

Aéroport de Yellowknife[1]
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorGovernment of the Northwest Territories[2]
LocationYellowknife, Northwest Territories
Hub forAdlair Aviation, Air Tindi, Buffalo Airways, Canadian North, Northwestern Air, Summit Air
Time zoneMST (UTC−07:00)
 • Summer (DST)MDT (UTC−06:00)
Elevation AMSL675 ft / 206 m
Coordinates62°27′47″N 114°26′25″W / 62.46306°N 114.44028°W / 62.46306; -114.44028
Websitewww.inf.gov.nt.ca/en/services/airports/yellowknife-airport
Map
CYZF is located in Northwest Territories
CYZF
CYZF
CYZF is located in Canada
CYZF
CYZF
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
16/34 7,503 2,287 Asphalt
10/28 5,001 1,524 Asphalt
Statistics (2014)
Aircraft movements52,881

In 2008 the airport's passenger terminal underwent an expansion to the departure/check-in section, roughly doubling the size of the terminal.[7] The airport is classified as an airport of entry by Nav Canada and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). CBSA officers at this airport can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers.[3]

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "G" Division maintains a hangar for its air section just south of the passenger terminal. It is adjacent to a hangar used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to house the CC-138 Twin Otter and other utility aircraft operated by 440 Transport Squadron, a subsidiary of 8 Wing.

Canadian NORAD Region Forward Operating Location Yellowknife is located south-west of the airstrip. It was built for forwarding deployment of the McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet in times of conflict.

History

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Yellowknife Airport was initially built by Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1944, then sold to the federal Department of Transport in 1946.[8] A new terminal building was built in 1963 and control tower in 1972. Renovation to these facilities were completed in 1967, 1998 and 2005-2006.[9]

During the 2023 Canadian wildfires the city of Yellowknife was evacuated, and so the airport served as a means for evacuees to leave the city.[10] Air Canada added extra flights to assist with the evacuation before suspending service to Yellowknife due to the fires.[11]

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Toronto–Pearson[12]
Air Canada Express Edmonton, Vancouver
Air Canada Rouge Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson[12]
Air North Seasonal: Ottawa, Toronto–Pearson,[13] Whitehorse
Air Tindi Fort Simpson, Gamèti, Hay River, Lutselk'e, Wekweètì, Whatì[14]
Canadian North Cambridge Bay, Edmonton, Fort Simpson, Gjoa Haven, Hay River, Inuvik, Iqaluit, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk, Norman Wells, Ottawa,[15] Rankin Inlet, Taloyoak, Ulukhaktok[16]
Northwestern Air Fort Smith
North-Wright Airways Colville Lake, Déline, Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, Tulita[17]
WestJet Calgary
WestJet Encore Calgary, Edmonton

Cargo

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AirlinesDestinations
Buffalo Airways Cambridge Bay, Déline, Edmonton, Fort Good Hope, Hay River, Kugluktuk, Norman Wells, Tulita

Emergency services

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Canadian North's last 737-200, parked in Yellowknife a day before its retirement
 
Polar bear and seal sculpture, in airport lobby

The airport has its own fire and rescue service. The department has ten firefighters, but requires only two or three firefighters on shift to operate a single crash tender. Ambulance and additional fire response are provided by the Yellowknife Fire Department.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Aéroport de Yellowknife" (in French). Government of Northwest Territories. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  2. ^ Airport Divestiture Status Report
  3. ^ a b Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ Synoptic/Metstat Station Information
  5. ^ Total aircraft movements by class of operation — NAV CANADA towers
  6. ^ "Yellowknife Airport Development Plan Update" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2014.
  7. ^ Yellowknife Airport Expansion
  8. ^ "Yellowknife | the Canadian Encyclopedia".
  9. ^ "MLAs debate Yellowknife airport expansion". 6 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Yellowknife fires: Evacuees pack road and air routes ahead of noon deadline". BBC News. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  11. ^ AIRLIVE (2023-08-18). "Evacuation continues from Yellowknife airport, Air Canada adds extra flights, as wildfires get closer to the city". AIRLIVE. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  12. ^ a b "AIR CANADA NW23 DOMESTIC SERVICE CHANGES – 20AUG23". Aeroroutes.com. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Announcing Service to Toronto, Ontario". Air North. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Flight Schedules". Air Tindi. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Introducing Canadian North One-Day Express Flights!". Archived from the original on 2023-06-04.
  16. ^ "Flight Schedule". Canadian North. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Spring/Summer Schedules" (PDF). North-Wright Airways. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Aircraft Fire Fighting Services".
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