2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“Terminal has an excellent, relaxed restaurant with some outdoor seating and a good view of airside operations.”
John “Jay” McGowan5★ on Google
Airports / Canada / XQU
Medium airport · XQU
Qualicum Beach Airport.
Qualicum Beach, Canada · 191 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.9/5
Google rating
34 ratings
0
Operators based
191
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Qualicum Beach, CanadaELEV 191 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.9
Google rating
34
Google reviews
ratings on Google
191
Field elevation
feet above sea level
27
Nearest alternate
nm to YCD
Field standing
#13 / 229
Canada airports by Google rating
4.9★ across 34 Google ratings , ranked against 229 rated Canada fields.
27 nm
To the nearest alternate
Nanaimo Airport (YCD), 4 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Qualicum Beach, Canada, Qualicum Beach Airport (CAT4 / XQU) operates as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 191 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into XQU for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Nanaimo Airport (YCD, 27 nm), Comox Valley International Airport / CFB Comox (YQQ, 30 nm), and Powell River Airport (YPW, 30 nm). With a single 3,565-foot paved runway, XQU can typically accommodate aircraft as large as light jets.
Charter pricing from XQU depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under AT4. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Qualicum Beach.
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What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“Their service is incredibly fast, friendly, and reliable.”
Kevo5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Qualicum Beach Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CAT4
IATA
XQU
FAA / Local
CAT4
Elevation
191 ft
Coordinates
49.3375° N · 124.3931° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Canada fields
state range 6–3,940 ft
At 191 ft, XQU sits lower than 78% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,565 ft
- 11/293,565 ft × 75 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,565 ft
XQU's 3,565 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 27nmYCDNanaimo AirportNanaimo
- 30nmYQQComox Valley International Airport / CFB ComoxComox
- 30nmYPWPowell River AirportPowell River
- 48nmYVRVancouver International AirportVancouver
- 50nmYBLCampbell River AirportCampbell River
- 56nmYYJVictoria International AirportVictoria
Location
Open the full mapCAT4 · Qualicum Beach Airport · Qualicum Beach, Canada
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from XQU on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 141 nm | 44m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 660 nm | 1h 56m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 709 nm | 2h 3m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 733 nm | 2h 6m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 893 nm | 2h 29m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 944 nm | 2h 36m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 945 nm | 2h 36m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 964 nm | 2h 39m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use XQU?
- Qualicum Beach Airport's longest paved runway is 3,565 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at XQU?
- Qualicum Beach Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,565 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to XQU?
- The closest alternate is Nanaimo Airport (YCD), about 27 nm away, followed by Comox Valley International Airport / CFB Comox (YQQ) at 30 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from XQU to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Jackson Hole about 1h 56m (660 nm), San Francisco about 2h 3m (709 nm), Salt Lake City about 2h 6m (733 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.