Maple News reports Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has cracked Skytrax’s top 10 globally in the 2026 World Airport Survey, marking the first time a Canadian airport has reached the upper tier since 2014. The results were announced in London on March 18, 2026.
The top 10 list this year skews toward airports in Asia and Europe, with Vancouver the sole North American entry among the upper ranks.
Vancouver rose from 13th in 2025 to 10th in 2026—Canada’s first top-10 airport since 2014, when Vancouver itself placed ninth.
Topping the rankings are Singapore Changi (SIN), Incheon (ICN), Tokyo Haneda (HND), Hong Kong (HKG), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Rome Fiumicino (FCO), Istanbul (IST), Munich (MUC), and Vancouver (YVR).
Canada’s other major airports—Toronto Pearson (YYZ) and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL)—finished 55th and 46th, respectively (Montreal up from 51st in 2025).
Skytrax notes that the ranking considers criteria such as immigration processing efficiency, terminal comfort, staff friendliness, and check-in facilities among other factors.
Analysts say the milestone could bolster Canada’s aviation and travel image, with potential benefits for tourism, business travel, and talent mobility as the country continues to attract international startups and skilled workers.
Maple News will continue to monitor how investments in airport infrastructure and border controls translate into traveler experience and immigration outcomes.