Airport Information
About YBL
About Us
The Campbell River Airport (YBL) is a vital transportation hub for northern and central Vancouver Island, providing reliable air access for residents, businesses, visitors, and essential services. Located just minutes from downtown Campbell River, YBL serves as an efficient gateway to the North and Central Island regions, as well as the Discovery Islands and the Central Coast of British Columbia.
Owned and operated by the City of Campbell River, YBL is a modern, municipally managed airport with the infrastructure and flexibility to support a wide range of aviation activity. The airport accommodates scheduled commercial service, general and business aviation, flight training, and critical operations such as medevac, wildlife response, and resource-sector support. These services make YBL an essential piece of regional transportation and emergency infrastructure.
As a designated Airport of Entry, general aviation can arrive direct at YBL and clear Canadian customs on site, without the need to land elsewhere in Canada first.
YBL’s central location on Vancouver Island allows efficient access to communities across the North and Central Island – often with less congestion and shorter overall travel times – than larger urban airports. Instrument approaches, high-intensity runway lighting, and year-round operations contribute to safe and dependable service in a wide range of weather conditions.
Looking ahead, YBL is focused on long-term sustainability and responsible growth. The airport is preparing for emerging aviation technologies, expanded commercial opportunities, and increased demand driven by tourism, industry, and population growth. With strong municipal support and an experienced airport team, YBL is positioned to continue serving the region safely, efficiently, and reliably for decades to come.
Our Reach
The Campbell River Airport serves on of the most geographically diverse and operationally important regions on Vancouver Island. Centrally located between the island’s north, west coast, and mainland inlets, YBL provide efficient air access to communities, industries, and destinations that are not easily served by road or ferry.
From Campbell River, aircraft can reach destinations across Vancouver Island, the Discovery Islands, and the central coast within a short flight time. This makes YBL a natural hub for general aviation, charter operations, helicopters and floatplane support serving remote communities, coastal industries, and wilderness tourism lodges.
YBL supports significant rotary-wing and seaplane activity, reflecting Campbell River’s role as a regional aviation centre. The concentration of air operations in the area underscores the airport’s importance in supporting marine access, island communities, forestry and resource operations, search and rescue, and medical evacuation services.
Together, these factors give the Campbell River Airport a reach that extends well beyond the local community. YBL is not only a point of departure and arrival, but a critical connector for people, services, and industries across northern and coastal British Columbia.
The History of Campbell River Airport (YBL)
By Gail Franklin
In 1954, a group of citizens met informally to discuss how to establish this airport. They saw a potential economic boom in the Campbell River area, and they wanted to create a transportation hub that would support it.
It wasn’t easily accomplished. The search for the right site took years. Once the land was found, the initial estimated cost of clearing and construction was far more than could be raised. But imagination and the local “can-do” spirit won out, as the contractor agreed to wait for payment and the Village of Campbell River donated a municipal building that could be moved to the site. It was a small but important beginning.
From the day it opened in 1959, this airport has contributed to Campbell River’s ability to attract visitors, residents and business investment. It continues to serve the mining, forestry and tourism industries along with local residents and it brings the world to our door.
Growing along with the city, the airport has seen decades of continuous improvement that attract and serve additional businesses and visitors. The first airstrip was gravel, and was frequently visited by deer and bears. Today this facility supports an array of aviation and aerospace companies that offer service to the entire Pacific Coast corridor.
The dream of a thriving transportation hub has come true. Campbell River has become a natural choice for businesses seeking an accessible location, abundant natural resources, and space to grow. Visitors and residents enjoy the area’s magnificent setting and easy-going lifestyle, supported by rapid access to goods and services.
As always, the friendly, informal atmosphere of the Campbell River Airport is complemented by excellent service and technical support, reflecting the character of the city it serves.
Safety Management
The safety of all operations at the Campbell River Airport is paramount; maintaining the confidence of the travelling public in the safety of the aviation industry is vital. Our Safety Management System provides us with a common, explicit and comprehensive process for managing airside safety risks. That process can be summarized as: Identify hazards, Mitigate risks, Monitor continuously.
If you have a safety concern or have identified a hazard, please contact the safety manager at:
Please provide us with the date and time the hazard was observed, the nature of the hazard and any further pertinent details.