Calgary International Airport (YYC) is the main airport in Alberta and the Canadian Rockies. If you’re trying to visit Banff, Lake Louise, or Jasper, Calgary Airport is the most convenient.
The airport is located 17 km northeast of downtown Calgary.
Calgary Airport handled more than 19 million passengers in 2025, making it Canada’s fourth-busiest airport. It is one of Canada’s major “preclearance” airports, where you can complete US immigration procedures before departure and land in the USA as if you were on a domestic flight.
Major Airlines - WestJet, Air Canada
Calgary is a major hub for WestJet, which is Canada’s second-largest carrier. It operates more than 100 routes, including dozens of domestic ones, as well as a growing number of direct international flights to the United States, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
WestJet Encore operates many of the airline company’s regional routes.
Air Canada, the flag carrier and the largest airline in the country, also flies to/from Calgary with a focus on connecting it to large hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montréal, as well as destinations abroad such as London and New York.
Its regional subsidiaries, Air Canada Express and Air Canada Rouge, provide regional domestic links and low-cost leisure routes, respectively.
Other Canadian airlines that fly to Calgary include Porter Airlines, Flair Airlines, and Air North.
Internationally, Calgary is connected to several of the biggest airports in the USA and Europe. Airlines such as KLM, British Airways, and Discover Airlines provide year-round scheduled services to Amsterdam, London, and Frankfurt. Edelweiss Air, Condon, and Discover Airlines also offer seasonal services to Zürich, Frankfurt, and Munich, respectively.
All major US airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, have at least one route between Calgary and one of their hubs in the United States. Alaska Airlines also flies between Calgary and Seattle/Tacoma daily.
Etihad Airways starts(ed) a direct route to Abu Dhabi in late 2026.
Click here for the live departure board at YYC.
Terminal Layout and Gates
Calgary International Airport has two connected terminals, one for domestic and one for international flights.
They form a terminal complex, which is divided into Concourses A, B, C, D, and E:
Concourse A1: Gates A1 to A6, which WestJet uses for regional flights with smaller aircraft.
Concourse A2: Gates A11 to A24, used for domestic flights.
Concourse B: Gates B31 to B40, used for domestic flights.
Concourse C: Gates C50 to C65, used by Air Canada for its domestic flights.
Concourse D: Gates D70 to D87, used for all international flights except to the USA. It may sometimes be used for domestic flights.
Concourse E: Gates E70 to E97, used for transborder flights to the United States with US preclearance facilities. This concourse has a separate airside area.
The YYC LINK is a free airside electric shuttle that connects the concourses, making connections much easier. If you’re walking, it would take you about 10 minutes between the two farthest gates, whereas the shuttle drops it down to just 3 minutes.
The airport is open 24/7.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Canadian airports, Calgary included, have a separate transit area, unlike airports in the USA. If you have an international-to-international connection via Calgary, you may remain airside until your next flight, but you will still need to go through Canadian Immigration. There are separate counters just for transiting passengers.
Domestic connections are trivial - there are no checkpoints, and all you need to do is find your next gate in the Departures concourse.
In case of an international-to-domestic transfer, follow the signs to the Arrivals area. You will go through Canadian Immigration, then continue through the transit corridor, clear Security, and proceed to the Departure area.
If your second flight is bound for the USA, there is an additional check by US Immigration. Calgary has US pre-clearance facilities, which means that you will go through US Border Control before departure and arrive in the US as if on a domestic flight.
The minimum connection times are typically just a few minutes for domestic transfers and 75-120 minutes for international or US-bound connections.
In all cases, as long as your two flights are under the same reservation (PNR), you don’t need to collect your luggage, and it will be transferred automatically by the airline.
Longer layovers in YYC may allow you to check out some of the best things to do in Calgary and the surrounding region.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Calgary Airport offers free Wi-Fi in all public areas. To use, connect to the “YYC-Free-WiFi” network and follow the simple registration process.
Other passenger services at YYC include:
ATMs: Several Canadian banks have machines throughout the airport. Some dispense US dollars as well.
Currency Exchange: ICE Foreign Exchange has counters in International Arrivals (before Security) and in Concourse D (airside).
Baby Care Rooms: Available in restrooms throughout the terminal, equipped with feeding spaces and changing tables.
Children’s Play Area: “YYC Fun Zones” exist in 7 places throughout the terminals, both landside and airside.
Prayer Room: Interfaith and open 24/7 hours. Located on the mezzanine level of the Domestic Terminal Building (DTB), near the food court, before Security.
Luggage storage: Located on the Arrivals Level, landside. Costs between 7 and 16 CAD per bag, per day. Only open between 7:00 AM and 12:00 AM.
- Information Desks: Two locations:
Domestic Arrivals, near Door 9, open between 7:00 AM and 12:00 AM.
International Arrivals, near Door 15 (Departure Halls D and E), available 24/7.
Lost and Found: The office is located at the Information desk on the Arrivals Level near Door 9.
Pet Relief Areas: Both indoor and outdoor areas are available before and after Security.
Smoking areas: Smoking is allowed only outside the terminals in designated areas near Doors 1, 7, and 17 on both Arrivals and Departures levels.
Showers: Ora Oxygen Wellness Spa offers paid showers in the eastern part of the departure hall. Costs 20 CAD for 15 minutes or 30 CAD for 30 minutes.
Drinking water fountains: Several are spread throughout all concourses.
Lounges at Calgary Airport
The two major Canadian airlines both have domestic lounges at YYC:
Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge is located in Concourse C, near Gate 12 (airside) and is open between 4:00 AM and 1:00 AM. It welcomes members of the Maple Leaf Club or passes bought in advance via Air Canada. Holders of select credit cards and Star Alliance passengers may also be eligible for a complimentary entry.
WestJet’s Elevation Lounge is located on Level 2 of Concourse B (airside) and is open between 5:00 AM and 10:15 PM. This lounge welcomes premium passengers of the airline and operates under a pay-at-the-door system for everyone else. Holders of various lounge passes and credit cards, as well as members of eligible programs, may also benefit from complimentary access.
An independent lounge, the Aspire Lounge, is available for international passengers on Level 2 of Concourse D, near Gate D80 (between Vin Room and Chili's). It’s open from 5:00 AM to 8:30 PM and allows anybody, regardless of airline, to pay 55 CAD (plus tax) at the door for a 3-hour pass. This lounge also accepts Priority Pass, Dragon Pass, AMEX, Dreamfolks, Diners Club, and Lounge Key.
The transborder section of the airport (for flights to the USA and after the dedicated checkpoint, Gates E) has one more Aspire Lounge beside the food court. It is open from 04:30 AM to 7:00 PM daily and also accepts passengers of all airlines, as well as membership programs for 55 CAD for a 3-hour pass.
Dining Options at YYC
Calgary Airport has a large selection of dining options. It’s easy to find North American fast food chains like Tim Hortons, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, and others throughout the terminals.
It’s not too difficult to find local specialties such as Alberta beef and craft beer, either. For example, the Tonic Kitchen & Bar (Gates C) is one of Calgary Airport’s trendiest bars
Phil and Sebastian in Gates E (US Departures) is widely considered the best coffee place. It’s a local roaster too!
The Vin Room Restaurant (Gates D) is another well-acclaimed place, especially popular for its tapas and a selection of over 80 wines by the glass.
There are options for all kinds of dietary requirements, including dairy-free, flourless, gluten-friendly, halal, nut-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
For dessert, you can check out the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (Gates E and D) to try their maple chocolates, fudges, maple syrup, and more.
Most restaurants, bars, and cafes open around 4:30 AM for the earliest flights, and close sometime in the late evening, but few remain open overnight.
Transport to and from the airport
The Calgary Transit Route 300 (aka Airport BRT) is the main public transport option at YYC. The bus connects the airport to downtown in about 45 minutes, running every 20 to 30 minutes. Tickets cost 3.70 CAD (with free transfers up to 90 minutes) and are available from the vending machines near the bus stops or from the 7-Eleven store on Arrivals near Door 11.
The Domestic terminal bus stop is near Pillars 7 and 8. The International terminal bus stop is near Pillar 32.
Additionally, Bus Route 100 connects to the Saddletowne LRT Station (LRT Blue Line) and the North Pointe Bus Terminal.
Taxis allow for a direct, stress-free ride from Calgary Airport. City of Calgary's Livery Transport Services (LTS) regulates all taxi rides and licenses all vehicles. The taxi stands are on the Arrivals level, at Doors 1, 9, and 15. Fares are metered, with the approximate fare to downtown Calgary being around 45 CAD. Airport sedans and limousine service are also available.
Similarly, ride-sharing is provided by Uber and Lyft - the only authorized ride-share operators at YYC. The drop-off area is curbside on the Arrivals level, whereas the pick-up locations are by Doors 3, 12, or 15 (Arrivals), or by Doors 5 and 11 (Departures) during peak times.
Turo, a peer-to-peer car-sharing option, also provides services at YYC, available through its online platform and mobile app.
Lastly, if you’d like to rent a car at Calgary Airport, you have many options. The Rental Car Centre is located on the Departures Level, across the roadway from the Domestic Terminal. You can also reach it via the elevator lobby opposite the Arrivals entrance. Rental car companies present at YYC include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Alamo.
Click here for private transfers from Calgary Airport.
Parking at YYC
Calgary Airport offers short-term and long-term parking in two lots near the terminals, as well as an Economy lot with lower rates.
Here’s a summary of the available official parking facilities at YYC:
P1 Short Term: Best for Concourses A, B, and C. Has a 20-minute gratis period with an additional 20 minutes charged at 5 CAD each. The daily maximum is 40 CAD. First week capped at 200 CAD.
P2 Short Term: Best for Concourse E and D. Offers the same rates as P1 for short-term parking.
P1 Long Term: Occupies Levels 2 and 4 of the facility. Charges an hourly rate of 10 CAD or a daily rate of 32 CAD.
P2 Long Term: Occupies Levels 3-7 of the facility. Charges an hourly rate of 10 CAD or a daily rate of 32 CAD.
Economy Lot: Located a short walk away from the Domestic Terminal, accessible from Airport Rd.. Best option for longer stays, up to 60 days. The daily rate is 16 CAD, and the weekly rate is capped at 80 CAD.
Overhead Lot: Connected to the terminal via a designated walkway. Suitable for oversized vehicles. Costs 10 CAD per hour, 27 CAD per day, or 135 CAD per week.
The pick-up area for arriving passengers is curbside on the lower Arrivals level, at Doors 4-7 for domestic flights, or Doors 16-17 for international flights.
Note that you cannot park there, so while waiting for your friends or family to arrive, you should head to the Cellphone Waiting Lot, where you can park for free for up to 60 minutes. To reach it, take 19th Street, then turn left on Airport Ave., and then follow the signs to it.
Similarly, the Drop-off area is curbside on the upper Departures level.
Electric vehicles can use one of the 4 universal and 8 Tesla charging stations on Level 4 of P1. There are also 9 more universal charging stations on level 2 of P1. Electricity is included in the parking charges.
Hotels near Calgary Airport
There are two hotels at the airport:
Delta Hotels Calgary Airport In-Terminal
Calgary Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel
Both are located landside and linked directly to the terminal via an internal corridor. They offer soundproof rooms and runway views and have on-site restaurants, fitness centers, and a shared indoor pool.
There are several other hotels within a 10-minute drive on both sides of Airport Trail NE, many of which offer complimentary shuttles to and from the terminal. Some of the bigger international chains with properties near YYC are the Hampton Inn by Hilton and The Westin.
Click here if you’d like to see more airport hotels near Calgary Airport.
Calgary, AB, Canada
