Tofino Airport: Flights, Seaplanes and Getting In

Tofino-Long Beach Airport carries the code YAZ (also referenced as CYAZ) and sits on the Pacific Rim Highway between Tofino and Ucluelet. It has three runways, each 5,000 feet (1,524 m) long, and its own site states the airport can accommodate large planes up to a Boeing 737, though the only scheduled carrier flying in at the time of research is Pacific Coastal Airlines. Sources disagree on the airport's exact driving distance from Tofino, with figures as far apart as 11 km and 18 km depending on the source, so this page does not print either number; budget your transfer time by asking your driver or rental counter directly rather than a printed distance.

The airport's ICAO identifier, CYAZ, appears alongside YAZ on flight-tracking and aviation sources, though this page uses YAZ throughout since that is the code travellers search.

What the Airport's Own Site Does Not Say

The airport's own site, read for this page, does not list taxi companies, a shuttle service, a rental-car counter or parking rates. That is a gap worth planning around rather than assuming a counter will be there: arrange a ride before you fly, either through your accommodation, a taxi company from Tourism Tofino's own directory, or a rental car booked ahead through one of the companies on Tofino car rental.

Harbour Air's seaplane leaves downtown Vancouver's Coal Harbour and lands on Tofino Harbour itself, not at YAZ. This puts arriving passengers close to the village core rather than on the highway between Tofino and Ucluelet, which can mean less onward travel once you land. The service runs on water in spring and summer only; in winter, Harbour Air switches to a wheeled service from Vancouver International Airport's South Terminal, the same departure point Pacific Coastal uses.

One-way fares start from US$98.66 (C$139), and the trip takes about 45 minutes. Full route comparison against the ferry option is on Vancouver to Tofino.

Tourism Tofino's own business directory names three taxi and rideshare services operating in the area: Tofino Taxi, Pacific Rim Navigators, and Coastal Rides, an app-based rideshare service. Coastal Rides also operates the private car transfers that run between the Nanaimo area and Tofino, though those are a separate booking from a short airport pickup. For a rental car waiting at the airport or ready to collect once you reach the village, Tofino car rental lists the companies named in the same official directory: Otus Rent A Car, Kruzy Car Rentals and Budget Car Rental.

Confirm any pickup, whether taxi or rental, directly with the operator before you land, since none of it is arranged by the airport itself. Whichever way you land, a US visitor can drive a rental car in BC on a valid home licence for up to six months under ICBC's own rule, with no International Driving Permit required, so a rental picked up right at the airport doesn't need extra paperwork on the licence side. Full detail on the three companies themselves, including what none of them publish in advance, is on Tofino car rental.

Harbour Air's own fares page sets baggage allowance by fare tier: Light 10 lbs, Value 15 lbs, Comfort 25 lbs, Flex 50 lbs, with extra baggage purchasable on any tier. The page states plainly that "due to operating weight-constrained aircraft, Harbour Air may, at times, need to place luggage on alternate services," which means a bag can occasionally travel on a later flight than you do. Pack accordingly: a smaller bag on your person and anything bulky checked with room to spare, rather than assuming jet-style baggage rules apply.

Pacific Coastal's own baggage figures were not confirmed on the pages read for this page, so confirm directly when you book.

Which Airline Fits Your Trip

Pacific Coastal's year-round schedule with multiple daily departures is the more dependable pick if your travel dates fall outside the spring-to-fall window, or if the water landing itself isn't the point. Harbour Air's seaplane is the one that puts you closest to the village core, landing on Tofino Harbour rather than the highway-side airport, which can shorten the trip into town once you're on the ground.