โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
International โ Domestic
90
minutes
International โ International
120
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Kelowna International Airport is the Okanagan's main commercial gateway and one of Canada's busiest secondary airports, with a 9,039 x 200 ft runway 16/34, full towered operations, airport-of-entry customs, Category 7 firefighting, and apron space structured separately for airline, commercial, and FBO traffic. It operates on a much larger scale than a generic regional-airport template suggests.
YLW is in the middle of its largest terminal build-out to date. The airport's own project updates show a new departures lounge and screening area opened on January 28, 2026, as part of a multi-year expansion that also adds new food options, washrooms, baggage capacity, and future CBSA and arrivals improvements.
That matters because YLW is not just a local airport for Kelowna. It is the aviation front door for the whole Okanagan Valley, handling tourism, wine-country travel, ski traffic, cargo, and growing year-round business demand in one terminal campus.
๐ Connection Tips
Kelowna International Airport achieved record-breaking traffic with 2. 13 million passengers in 2024, ranking as Canada's 10th busiest airport and BC's second-busiest, with 8 airlines providing over 60 daily flights to 21 destinations. Air Canada, WestJet, Alaska Airlines, Flair Airlines, and Porter Airlines (new in 2025) serve the facility, with WestJet expanding Toronto service to daily flights and launching new Seattle routes with Alaska Airlines. The airport features an 8,900-foot runway capable of wide-body aircraft, with terminal expansion doubling departures lounge size by late 2026 as part of a $108-million Phase 1 project.
Between 2024-2033, over $422 million in infrastructure investments include the new 6-story Sutton Place Hotel (245 rooms, completed 2028) and 7-story parkade (1,000 stalls, completed 2027). Porter Airlines' new Toronto service beginning May 2025 adds competition alongside existing Air Canada and WestJet Toronto routes, while Alaska Airlines provides seasonal Los Angeles service. Ground transportation includes on-site Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Hertz rentals, plus comprehensive taxi, Uber, and Lyft services throughout the Okanagan Valley.
The facility serves as BC's primary wine country gateway and winter sports access point to Big White and Silver Star Mountain resorts, requiring careful weather planning during mountain conditions. Summer operations must account for high elevation (1,421 feet) and temperatures exceeding 40ยฐC affecting aircraft performance. The $422-million investment program through 2033 positions YLW for continued growth as Western Canada's premier regional hub, with efficient single-terminal operations enabling quick connections despite record passenger volumes.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
60
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Conklin (Leismer) Airport (CFM), also identified by its ICAO code CET2, is a registered aerodrome located in Alberta, Canada. This airport plays a crucial role in supporting the region's oil and gas industry, particularly for operations related to the Leismer oil sands project. Primarily serving charter and private flights, it facilitates the transport of personnel and supplies to and from remote work sites, contributing significantly to the logistical network of Northern Alberta's energy sector.
As a small airport without scheduled commercial service, CFM does not feature a traditional passenger terminal with extensive retail or dining options. However, it does operate a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) named Leismer Aerodrome Ltd., which provides essential amenities and services. These FBO services typically include a pilot lounge, a flight planning area, and potentially basic comforts like free coffee. While detailed specifics on passenger facilities are limited, the focus is on efficient processing and support for general and corporate aviation movements.
Operational aspects at Conklin (Leismer) Airport include a paved runway, designated 09/27, measuring 5251 feet in length, equipped with an Omni-Directional Approach Lighting System. Fuel (JA-1) is available on-site. The airport operates under Prior Permission Required (PPR) conditions, meaning users must obtain permission before landing. Communication is managed via an Aerodrome Traffic Frequency (ATF) / UNICOM, and a Peripheral Station (PAL) Edmonton Center frequency. These operational details highlight its role as a specialized aviation facility catering to the specific needs of the region's industrial activities.
๐ Connection Tips
Conklin (Leismer) Airport (CFM) is a private industrial aerodrome rather than a public passenger airport, so connection planning here belongs entirely in the realm of company logistics. If your trip involves CFM, the practical hub is Edmonton or Calgary, and the final movement to Leismer is a controlled charter or project flight, not a normal airline transfer. That means no meaningful airline-style recovery exists at the airfield itself if timing changes.
The main implication is simple: protect the commercial itinerary at YEG or YYC and treat the Conklin segment as the last, highly specific movement of the day. If a worker transfer, contractor rotation, or project charter is involved, confirm the departure details through the operations team rather than assuming public flight patterns or airport services. This is a site-support airfield, so the schedule is driven by project needs, not by general passenger convenience.
On arrival, the airport process is part of corporate access control, not casual landside movement. You should already know who is meeting you, what transport is taking you to camp or site, and how the plan changes if the inbound airline is late. CFM works best when the whole trip is stitched together before departure: commercial hub protected, company charter confirmed, local transfer assigned, and enough buffer in Alberta that a late inbound does not break the only workable connection to the project airfield.
โ Back to Kelowna International Airport