Sponsored
CYPK, gateway to the lower mainland

The Pitt Meadows Regional Airport, CYPK, is Canada’s ninth busiest airport and British Columbia’s third busiest. The airport has almost 500 aircraft, including float planes, approximately 350 hangar bays (with more than 100 bays under development), 11 Flight Training Units and 50 businesses employing 350 people. Aircraft movements have been steadily increasing since 2020 with more than 200,000 movements projected for 2025. The airport, owned by the Pitt Meadows Airport Society, occupies more than 700 acres of land adjacent to the Fraser River. A financially sound airport, YPK is your gateway to Canada’s future aviation economic hub.

The Pitt Meadows Airport Society is a not-for-profit entity governed by the City of Pitt Meadows and the City of Maple Ridge, both exceedingly supportive of the airport’s strategic direction. The airport’s board of directors include a mix of municipal employees and private sector members. The board’s President, Mark Roberts, is the City of Pitt Meadows’ Chief Administrative Officer (2015). He is serving his second term as President since joining the board in 2019.

Day-to-day airport operations rely on a small but mighty team of eight, flexing to 10 in the summer, led by Guy Miller, General Manager. Miller has an extensive aviation career, including roles as an RCAF fighter pilot; past member of the Fraser Blues aerobatic team; and a Cathay Pacific commercial airline pilot. In 2018 Miller joined the team at YPK to oversee an extensive airport revitalization project.

“In 2018 I found a time-worn airport with hangars approaching their useful service life, poor and lacking infrastructure, and an absence of strategic focus. The team embarked on a $9.7 million capital program to revitalize the airport, delivered over six years,” Miller says. “Our projects have touched nearly every piece of infrastructure at the airport, including lighting, signage, pavement, and fencing. These improvements allowed the airport to attract a slate of new private development, including a state-of-the-art terminal building, commercial operators, and enhanced hangars and commercial buildings. We have transformed YPK to become B.C.’s lower mainland’s gateway for the future of general and business aviation.”

The mission of the airport is to develop an environment for the benefit of its stakeholders. YPK’s primary vision is to be a significant contributor to the North Fraser region’s economic diversity through quality aviation services and vibrant business activity at the airport.

CYPK is one of Canada’s busiest airports, and British Columbia’s third busiest, with 195,344 aircraft movements in 2024, up from 149,997 in 2023. (Photo: Pitt Meadows Regional Airport)

Ensuring long-term financial sustainability and accountability is of vital importance to the airport. The continued success of its development will improve the airport’s financial revenue ensuring long term financial sustainability and economic prosperity. YPK is a profitable airport generating more than 90 percent of its revenue from long-term land leases. Each year’s operating profit is re-invested into next year’s capital and operating budget, enabling airport services to thrive and expand. A 2015 economic impact study, by the InterVISTAS Consulting Group, found that the direct impact of ongoing operations at the airport included: 340 jobs with an average salary of $54,000; $15 million in household income; $24 million contributed to Canada’s GDP. The total economic impact of the airport is: 590 jobs with an average salary of $54,000; $27 million in household income; $45 million contributed to Canada’s GDP. The airport is currently undertaking an updated economic study to be completed in 2025.

YPK is centrally located within the lower Fraser Valley, equidistant from downtown Vancouver (a 45-minute drive or 11 minutes by helicopter), the Vancouver International Airport (CYVR), and City of Abbotsford. The site has excellent access to the region and beyond, being conveniently located just off the Golden Ears Bridge which connects to Highway 7, the major regional highway north of the Fraser River, and Highway 1, located to the south of the Fraser River.

The history of YPK dates back to 1957 when the federal government planned to create a secondary airport in the Lower Mainland due to the growing demand at YVR. Construction began in 1962 with the Department of Transport planning to spend $300,000 for utilities and developing gravel and grass runways on farmland. YPK opened on July 20,1963, and by 1972/1973 Pitt Meadows became one of the busiest airports in Canada with more than 250,000 annual aircraft movements. In January 1998, the districts of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows jointly took custody of the airport forming the Pitt Meadows Airport Society.

Today, the airport has three active runways: 08L/26R 2,485 feet x 75 feet; 08R/26L 5,063 feet x 100 feet; and 18/36, 2,484 feet x 75 feet. One FBO, Integrity Flight Support, services the airport, in addition to self-service fuel provider Aero Club of B.C. YPK is a CANPASS/AOE15 airport of entry for aircraft carrying no more than 15 passengers. NAV Canada operates a control tower at YPK, to help ensure a safe and controlled environment.

The Airport Society has created an environment attracting private investors and operators to build hangars, office complexes, maintenance facilities and a state-of-the-art terminal building. Recent multi-million-dollar upgrades and investments include repaved runways, taxiways, and aprons, expanded and redesigned Apron 1 with overhead night lighting. Opened in 2022, the Whiskey Charlie Café is open seven days a week offering a full breakfast and lunch menu, as well as liquor service for passengers. Telus has invested into YPK bringing highspeed fibre-based Internet services to the airport and its tenants.

In 2019, the airport terminal was moved to make room for a new two-level, 50,000-square-foot building which opened in January 2022. YPK has many new opportunities underway, including the Canadian Museum of Flight (CMF), which intends to build a new facility to house its collection through on ongoing fundraising campaign. Other YPK approved projects include: a 20-acre helicopter park with 275,000 square feet of hangar space, multiple hangars ranging in size from 10 to 50,000 square feet, a T-Hangar development delivering over 133,750 square feet of hangarage, with the intention of focusing on aircraft storage, AMO and MRO operators and commercial aviation businesses.

CYPK occupies over 700 acres of land adjacent to the Fraser River, owned by the Pitt Meadows Airport Society. (Photo: Pitt Meadows Regional Airport)

As a result of pent-up business demand, the airport has embarked on the development of an eight-lot commercial aviation hangar subdivision located on its Northeast quadrant. Each lot will be approximately 1.2 acres in size with direct access to the airport infrastructure allowing for the movement of aircraft serving the new commercial aviation development. An exciting new project in the preliminary planning stage includes an 11-acre waterfront development. Adjoining the float base on the Fraser River, this revitalization project is considering a scenic boardwalk, boutique retail, restaurant and parkland.

“As the Mayor of this vibrant community, I am immensely proud of YPK Airport’s role as a robust economic driver,” Nicole MacDonald, Mayor of Pitt Meadows, says. “With the tireless efforts of the Pitt Meadows Airport Society and staff, YPK has evolved into a business-friendly aviation hub. In recent years, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation of the airport… Receiving the 2022 BCAC William Templeton Trophy is a testament to the dedication and vision of the Airport Society and staff. This prestigious award reflects the exceptional initiative and achievement in elevating YPK to greater heights. YPK is not just an airport; it’s a symbol of progress for Pitt Meadows.”

Dan Ruimy, Mayor of Maple Ridge, adds: “As a hub for aviation training, emergency response, and commercial operations, [YPK] plays a crucial role in strengthening our economy and creating opportunities for residents and businesses. The potential for those in aerospace manufacturing, aviation component production, and rotary aircraft support is immense.”

Maxcraft Avionics Ltd. in 2008 was operating out of a leased hangar facility at YVR when the company’s President and GM, Daryl MacIntosh, determined it was time to build their own facility and find a better location for its type of operation. “At that time, with the Golden Ears bridge and the new Pitt River bridge under construction, I realized that Pitt Meadows would no longer be isolated and that its central location would become easily accessible from anywhere in the Lower Mainland,” MacIntosh says. “We broke ground in August 2008 and moved into our new hangar facility in May 2009. Our customers appreciate YPK for its uncomplicated air space enabling easy access by pilots unfamiliar with the area. The multiple runways and IFR approach capability ensure there are few days per year where aircraft are not arriving and departing.”

YPK is hosting its Airport Day on June 21, 2025, which routinely draws over 5000 attendees to take in the sights and sounds of this growing and critical infrastructure for Canadian aviation.

flyypk.ca/development