Cheap Flights to Kelowna Airport

Discover Kelowna

Kelowna (YLW)

Fly to Kelowna in Canada’s beautiful British Colombia province and explore the gorgeous Okanagan Valley.

Kelowna International Airport (YLW)

As one of Canada’s busiest airports, Kelowna International Airport (YLW), sees roughly a million passengers pass through its gates each year. It is located about 12km from Kelowna town centre, and a good list of services for transiting guests. These include ATMs, Internet access kiosks, restaurants, cafes, bars as well as retail stores, such as newsagents and gift shops.

Airlines to Kelowna

There are no direct flights to Kelowna from Australia, and all journeys on this route will require one or more stops along the way. These will usually take place in larger transport hubs in Canada, such as Vancouver (YVR) or Calgary (YYC).

The biggest international airline carrier that operates into this airport is Air Canada. If you are travelling from outside Australia you will find other airlines that service this airport are Air Transat, Air North, Alaska Airlines, Central Mountain Air, Pacific Coastal Airlines, Sunwing Airlines and WestJet.

Getting into Kelowna

By taxi

There are several taxi companies that service the airport and you will find them outside the terminal usually. If you’d prefer to book in advance you can visit the airport website which lists all the cab companies and their contact details. A journey into downtown Kelowna will cost around 40CAD ($41).

By public transport

There is a city bus service that operates from the airport. You will find the bus stop at the end of the car rental lot, and you take Route 23 and then transfer onto Route 8 or 97 at UBCO. The journey will cost a cheap and cheerful 2.50CAD ($2.55).

By car

Tourists travelling to Canada often rent a car, there are four rental companies at YLW, and these are Avis, Budget, Enterprise and national and can be found in the main terminal building.

What can you do in Kelowna?

Situated on the Okanagan Lake, in a valley of the same name, the city of Kelowna is one of the most picturesque towns in Canada.

Within the city, you can head to some of Kelowna’s fantastic historical sites, such as the Father Pandosy Mission, a 19th century former missionary and museum, or the wonderful Guisachan Heritage Park. If you want to learn about the history of the region, there’s no better place than at the Okanagan Heritage Museum and the Sncewips Heritage Museum, which chart the history of the settlers and the indigenous peoples of this region, respectively.

Of course, many travellers come to this part of Canada to make the most of the outdoor recreational activities, as you can make the most of this landscape in summer or winter. Take part in sports such as cross country skiing, hiking, horseback riding or biking around Myra Canyon. For those that want to enjoy the outdoors, but keep to a slower pace, the Okanagan Valley is renowned for its wineries, and there are lots of wine trails and tours you can indulge in.

When should you go?

Winters in Canada (December-February) are extremely chilly, hovering between -7°C and 0°C, this is a great time for winter sports but if you don’t like the cold the season is best avoided. Summers (June-August) however are warm, generally sunny and keep to the mid 20s, perfect for exploring the local wineries of the region.  

What do you need to know?

Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Visa: You’ll find that all visitors to Canada need a visa, though some nationalities can be issued a 90 day stay upon arrival. To find out if you are eligible for a visa when you land, or if you need to apply in advance, the best thing to do is to check the Canadian government website, which can answer any questions you may have.

Please note all information is current as of February 2016.