Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the primary airport serving Halifax and Maritimes. Furthermore, it acts as a gateway to Atlantic Canada. Located 35km and north of downtown Halifax, several options allow travellers to reach the city centre.
YHZ is a major airport for regional airlines such as PAL Airlines and a focus city for Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines. Given it’s location in Eastern Canada, the airport is seeing growth with international flights to Europe. With this growth, YHZ is positioning itself as the “most internationally connected airport of its size in North America” attracting airlines that would normally not fly to Halifax. For example, this allows budget travellers to book separate flights from North America to Europe via YHZ.
Good to know …
Terminal information
Terminal 1
- Hosts domestic, international, and U.S. flights under one roof.
- U.S. bound flights are separated after preclearance.
- The International Connections Facility (ICF) allows for international-to-domestic passengers to seamlessly clear customs without collecting their baggage or exiting the security area.
Notes
- The terminal building is compact with all areas under one roof.
Pros
- An incredibly well connected airport considering YHZ’s size.
- Strong international connectivity with a growing network.
- U.S. preclearance means a smoother trip for travellers heading to the states.
- Strong connections to throughout Canada.
- Easy-to-navigate and compact terminal.
- Less overwhelming than other major aviation hubs.
- Good selection of airlines for its size.
Cons
- Far from downtown Halifax. However YHZ is located far away to avoid fog related delays from the ocean.
- Many of the international flights are season (Europe in the summer and sun/Caribbean in the winter)
- Smaller selection of airlines and destinations compared to Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), or Vancouver (YVR).
- Limited lounge options, only the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge is available.
- Public transit options to downtown is inconvenient and lacking (an dedicated express bus with storage would be beneficial).
Notes
- Overall: YHZ is an easy-to-navigate airport with a growing selection of airlines and flights. The airport authority’s strategic decision to attract more international airlines means that YHZ is positioning itself as a strong connection point for travellers.