Getting to the Canadian Rockies by Air
The closest city to the Canadian Rockies is Calgary, Alberta, 128 kilometers (80 miles) east of Banff. Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city, is a major gateway to the mountains for international travelers. It lies on Canada’s West Coast, 830 kilometers (515 miles) west of Banff. Edmonton, 360 kilometers (224 miles) east of Jasper, also has an international airport. Even though Vancouver is a lot farther from the Canadian Rockies than Calgary, it is a popular starting point, as the trip across British Columbia by rail, bus, or car is spectacular.
The Canadian government collects a variety of “departure taxes” on all flights originating from Canada. These taxes are generally not in the advertised fare, but they will all be included in the ticket purchase price. First up is the Air Travellers Security Charge, $9-24 each way for flights within North America and $34 round-trip for international flights. NAV Canada also dips its hand in your pocket, collecting $10-25 per flight for maintaining the country’s navigational systems. All major Canadian airports charge an Airport Improvement Fee to all departing passengers, with Vancouver and Calgary charging $20 and $25, respectively, per passenger. You’ll also need to pay this fee from your original departure point, and if connecting through Toronto, another $7 is collected. And, of course, the above taxes are taxable, with the Canadian government collecting the 5 percent goods and services tax. While there is no bright side to paying these extras, it is made easy for consumers, with airlines lumping all the charges together and into the ticket price.
Air Canada
Canada’s national airline, Air Canada (604/688-5515 or 888/247-2262) is one of the world’s largest airlines. It offers direct flights to Calgary and Vancouver from all major Canadian cities, as well as from Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Houston, Chicago, and New York. From Europe, Air Canada flies directly from London to Vancouver and Calgary, and from other major European cities via Toronto. From the South Pacific, Air Canada operates flights from Sydney and in alliance with Air New Zealand from Auckland and other South Pacific islands to Vancouver. Asian cities served by direct Air Canada flights to Vancouver include Beijing, Nagoya, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo. Air Canada’s flights originating in the South American cities of Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima, and Bogotà are routed through Toronto, where you’ll need to change planes for either Calgary or Vancouver.
WestJet
Similar in concept to Southwest Airlines, WestJet (604/606-5525 or 800/538-5696) has daily flights to its Calgary hub, as well as to Vancouver and Edmonton from across Canada as far east as St. John’s, Newfoundland.
From the United States
Air Canada offers the most flights into Calgary and Vancouver from the United States, but one or both of the cities are also served by the following U.S. carriers: Alaska Airlines (800/252-7522) from Anchorage and Los Angeles; American Airlines (800/433-7300) from Chicago and Dallas; Delta (800/221-1212), with summer-only flights from Atlanta and Salt Lake City; and finally United Airlines (800/241-6522) from Chicago, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, and Seattle.
From Europe
In addition to Air Canada’s f lights from London to Calgary and Vancouver, British Airlines (800/247-9297) also flies this route daily. Air Canada flights between Vancouver and Continental Europe are routed through Toronto. Lufthansa (800/563-5954) has a daily flight between Frankfurt and Vancouver.
From Australia and New Zealand
Qantas (604/279-6611) flies to Vancouver from Sydney; flights originating in Melbourne and Brisbane are routed through Los Angeles. Air New Zealand (800/663-5494) operates in alliance with Air Canada to either Calgary or Vancouver, with a variety of interesting options, including stops in South Pacific destinations like Nandi (Fiji).
From Asia
Vancouver is the closest West Coast gateway to Asia, being more than 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) closer to Tokyo than Los Angeles. This and the city’s large Asian population mean that it is well served by carriers from across the Pacific. In addition to Air Canada’s multiple Asian destinations, Vancouver is served by: Air China (800/685-0921) from Beijing; ANA (888/422-7533) from Osaka and Tokyo in affiliation with Air Canada; Cathay Pacific (604/606-8888) twice daily from Hong Kong; Japan Airlines (800/525-3663) from Tokyo; Korean Air (800/438-5000) from Seoul; Philippine Airlines (800/435-9725) from Manila; and Singapore Airlines (800/663-3046) from Singapore via Seoul. For the short hop between Vancouver and Calgary on Air Canada, expect to pay around $200 extra each way.
Start planning your adventure today
- Strategic, flexible itineraries in the national parks, including a two-week Canadian Rockies road trip
- The best hikes in the Canadian Rockies: Find the right trek for you with details on length, elevation gains, difficulty levels, and trailheads
- Can’t-miss outdoor experiences: Hike to incredible vistas and try to spot moose, bighorn sheep, wolves, and black bears. Soak in a natural hot spring after a day on the slopes or wander through meadows of colorful wildflowers. Ride across the Columbia Icefield in an Ice Explorer, float through the sky in a mountain gondola, or white-water raft down rivers of snowmelt. Go horseback riding though the Tonquin Valley or fish for your own fresh dinner and camp under the stars
- Expert insight from Banff local Andrew Hempstead on when to go, where to eat, and where to stay, from campgrounds to luxurious mountain lodges
- Full-color photos, detailed maps of each park, and handy directions, including driving times and mileages, and coverage of gateway towns
- Background information on the landscape, culture, history, wildlife, and environment
- In-depth coverage of Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and nearby cities of Banff, Canmore, Jasper, Calgary, Radium Hot Springs, Golden, and Kananaskis Country
Hitting the road? Try Moon U.S. and Canadian Rockies Road Trip. Focusing on the parks? Check out Moon Best of Glacier, Banff, and Jasper.
About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can’t wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
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