2/ 4 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“I love the coffee there, nice and frozen before you can even take a sippy dippy.”
Lachlan12584★ on Google
Airports / Canada / YHY
Medium airport · YHY
Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport.
Hay River, Canada · 541 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.4/5
Google rating
23 ratings
1
Operators based
541
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Hay River, CanadaELEV 541 FTMedium airportScheduled service
4.4
Google rating
23
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
541
Field elevation
feet above sea level
64
Nearest alternate
nm to YFR
Field standing
#100 / 229
Canada airports by Google rating
4.4★ across 23 Google ratings , ranked against 229 rated Canada fields.
64 nm
To the nearest alternate
Fort Resolution Airport (YFR).
Overview
Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport (CYHY / YHY) sits in Hay River, Canada, where it functions as a mid-sized airport. The airport sits 541 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
The airport anchors local charter capacity, Landa Aviation is based here. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Fort Resolution Airport (YFR, 64 nm), Yellowknife International Airport (YZF, 105 nm), and Fort Smith Airport (YSM, 123 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,000-foot paved runway, YHY can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from YHY depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Hay River.
Run an FBO at CYHY? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 4 reviews
Staff & service
“From time to boarding to airplane taxi was only 10 minutes, incredibly efficient operation with friendly staff.”
Timothy Dressel (Tim)5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CYHY
IATA
YHY
FAA / Local
CYHY
Elevation
541 ft
Coordinates
60.8397° N · 115.7830° 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 541 ft, YHY sits lower than 63% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,000 ft
- 14/326,000 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 05/234,001 ft × 150 ftOtherLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,000 ft
YHY's 6,000 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- 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.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 64nmYFRFort Resolution AirportFort Resolution
- 105nmYZFYellowknife International AirportYellowknife
- 123nmYSMFort Smith AirportFort Smith
- 140nmYOJHigh Level AirportHigh Level
- 167nmYFSFort Simpson AirportFort Simpson
- 179nmYOPRainbow Lake AirportRainbow Lake
Location
Open the full mapCYHY · Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport · Hay River, Canada
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from YHY on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 835 nm | 2h 21m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 984 nm | 2h 41m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 1,050 nm | 2h 51m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 1,212 nm | 3h 13m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 1,315 nm | 3h 27m |
| Denver (DEN) | 1,325 nm | 3h 29m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 1,340 nm | 3h 31m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 1,416 nm | 3h 42m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use YHY?
- Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport's longest paved runway is 6,000 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. 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 YHY?
- Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,000 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at YHY?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Hay River / Merlyn Carter Airport as a home base, including Landa Aviation. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to YHY?
- The closest alternate is Fort Resolution Airport (YFR), about 64 nm away, followed by Yellowknife International Airport (YZF) at 105 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from YHY to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Seattle about 2h 21m (835 nm), Anchorage about 2h 41m (984 nm), Jackson Hole about 2h 51m (1,050 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.