5/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The temporary routes are clearly marked, signage is easy to follow, and getting from parking to the terminal and through to your gate is still straightforward.”
Matthew Vyse5★ on Google
Airports / Canada / YLW
Large airport · YLW
Kelowna International Airport.
Kelowna, Canada · 1,421 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
4.1/5
Google rating
1,929 ratings
1
Operators based
1,421
Elevation ft
Scheduled service
Kelowna, CanadaELEV 1,421 FTLarge airportScheduled service
4.1
Google rating
1,929
Google reviews
ratings on Google
1
Based operators
charter operators on the field
1,421
Field elevation
feet above sea level
18
Nearest alternate
nm to YVE
Field standing
18 nm
To the nearest alternate
Vernon Regional Airport (YVE), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Kelowna International Airport, listed as CYLW / YLW, is a large commercial airport in Kelowna, Canada. The field lies at an elevation of 1,421 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: Carson Air, Ltd bases aircraft at YLW. Useful alternates include Vernon Regional Airport (YVE, 18 nm), Penticton Airport (YYF, 31 nm), and Shuswap Regional Airport (YSN, 44 nm). YLW offers a single 8,900-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of YLW vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Kelowna and Okanagan. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from YLW, or browse verified operators serving the area.
Run an FBO at CYLW? Become the preferred FBO
What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
3/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“I've flown through Kelowna International Airport quite a few times, and it's always been a smooth experience.”
Matthew Vyse5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The airport has a relaxed, friendly feel that makes travelling a little less stressful.”
Matthew Vyse5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Kelowna International Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
CYLW
IATA
YLW
FAA / Local
CYLW
Elevation
1,421 ft
Coordinates
49.9561° N · 119.3780° 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
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Canada fields
state range 6–3,940 ft
At 1,421 ft, YLW sits higher than 76% of the 251 Canada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 8,900 ft
- 16/348,900 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 8,900 ft
YLW's 8,900 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.
- 18nmYVEVernon Regional AirportVernon
- 31nmYYFPenticton AirportPenticton
- 44nmYSNShuswap Regional AirportSalmon Arm
- 61nmYKAKamloops John Moose Fulton Field Regional AirportKamloops
- 67nmZGFGrand Forks AirportGrand Forks
- 76nmYRVRevelstoke AirportRevelstoke
Location
Open the full mapCYLW · Kelowna International Airport · Kelowna, Canada
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Kelowna International 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 YLW on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle (SEA) | 190 nm | 51m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 520 nm | 1h 37m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 632 nm | 1h 52m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 752 nm | 2h 9m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 813 nm | 2h 17m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 835 nm | 2h 21m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 853 nm | 2h 23m |
| Denver (DEN) | 868 nm | 2h 25m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use YLW?
- Kelowna International Airport's longest paved runway is 8,900 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 YLW?
- Kelowna International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 8,900 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at YLW?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list Kelowna International Airport as a home base, including Carson Air, Ltd. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to YLW?
- The closest alternate is Vernon Regional Airport (YVE), about 18 nm away, followed by Penticton Airport (YYF) at 31 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from YLW to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Jackson Hole about 1h 37m (520 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 52m (632 nm), San Francisco about 2h 9m (752 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.