YLW- Kelowna, BC

COVID-19 travel updates

Travel directives and screening

At YLW, the safety and security of our passengers, employees and airport visitors is our top priority. We support all measures to protect public health and we will continue to work closely with government and other public health agencies to support and implement any additional health and safety measures under their direction.

Ready to travel? For flight schedules, travel tips and what to expect the next time you fly, visit our Welcome Back page. 

Known travel directives that are now in place include:

  • All passengers travelling by air are required to have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during travel. Travellers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose at airport screening points, when they cannot physically distance from others, or as directed by airline employees or public health officials.
  • Masks are available for purchase at the airport; however, supplies are limited. We encourage all passengers to bring a mask with them to the airport. More information about the regulation, including exceptions where face coverings must not be worn, is available on the Transport Canada websiteopen_in_new.
  • All airlines are required to conduct a health check of travellers before they board a flight within Canada or departing from Canada. Any traveller presenting symptoms of COVID-19 will be denied boarding for 14 days or until a medical certificate is presented that confirms symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19. Please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada at 1-833-784-4397 with any questions.
  • Four airports in Canada are currently accepting international flights (Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Calgary International Airport) to ensure the continued transport of essential goods and to welcome Canadians home.
  • Canada has closed its borders to foreign nationals, with some exceptions such as air crews, diplomats and the immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Please contact Canada Border Service Agency at 1-833-784-4397 with any questions.

The Government of Canada is also strongly urging Canadian travellers to follow current travel advisories, which include:

  • avoiding non-essential travel outside the country until further notice.
  • returning to Canada via commercial means while they remain available.
  • requiring self-isolation for 14 days upon entry, with exceptions for workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people; they also have to fill out a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) coronavirus form and are required to declare if they are experiencing symptoms.

Flights that had passengers test positive for COVID-19 are listed on the Government of Canada website: Exposure on flights, cruise ships and at mass gatheringsopen_in_new. Please check this page frequently if you have travelled recently.

International travel & screening measures

At YLW, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia have implemented several screening measures at the airport:

  • All international passengers arriving in B.C. on commercial flights will land at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). All arriving passengers from outside of Canada, who are connecting to other airports or destinations, are required to submit a self-isolation planopen_in_new. The plan can be submitted onlineopen_in_new or at the Self-Assessment Tool, through the BC COVID-19 Support App, or in-person on arrival at YVR. It must show that returning passengers have supports in place to safely self-isolate for 14 days.
  • Travellers who do not have a self-isolation plan or are unable to safely carry one out may be transported or sent to an accommodation where they can safely complete their 14-day self-isolation.
  • Airlines are mandated to prevent all travellers who present symptoms of COVID-19 to board a plane at point of origin, meaning anyone who has symptoms will not be able to board an aircraft.

Learn more about Canada’s travel directives and screening measuresopen_in_new.

Public exposures

We will continue to be transparent and share information about events impacting YLW. As such, we are sharing notifications we receive from the BC Centre for Disease Controlopen_in_new about impacted airlines about passengers travelling through YLW who test positive for COVID-19. We are providing our utmost support to these agencies and are doing our part to help notify the community of potential exposure.

All passengers are advised to check and monitor flights listed on the BCCDC Public Exposures websiteopen_in_new. If your flight is listed, you may be required to self-isolate.