Vancouver Airports Prepare for World Cup Private Jet Surge

Vancouver International Airport and nearby facilities in Metro Vancouver are bracing for a surge in private jet arrivals as world leaders, celebrities, and affluent visitors head to the region for the FIFA World Cup, which begins next month.

The city will host seven matches in June and July at BC Place Stadium. Andy Margolis, chief operations officer at Vancouver International Airport, or YVR, anticipates an uptick from the typical 15 to 25 private planes landing daily. However, he expects volumes to remain well below the 181 jets that arrived on a single day during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in December 2024. "The World Cup is over a number of weeks period," Margolis said. "I'm not anticipating the numbers on the days either side of the games here to get anywhere near Taylor Swift. So it's all within our manageable capacity."

Private jets at YVR must reserve landing slots and coordinate with one of three specialized companies offering services such as luxury hangars and pilot lounges. Margolis noted that exact numbers are hard to predict, as most operators book only close to their arrival date. YVR staff have been planning for the event since 2022.