Traveling to or from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by SkyTrain’s Canada Line is about to get more expensive. TransLink is set to raise the special YVR Airport AddFare for the first time in its 17-year history, significantly increasing the cost of rides to and from Sea Island starting in 2026.
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Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming fare hike, why it exists, and what it means for riders.
What is the YVR Airport AddFare?
Since the Canada Line opened in 2009, a $5 surcharge, known as the YVR Airport AddFare, has applied to all trips originating from Sea Island stations (YVR Airport, Sea Island Centre, and Templeton) when traveling off the island. This charge is added on top of the regular TransLink zone fare.
The AddFare applies regardless of how you pay: using a Compass Card’s Stored Value, purchasing a DayPass at Sea Island stations, or tapping with a contactless credit or debit card.
For example, a standard adult trip from YVR to downtown Vancouver (a two-zone trip) currently costs $8.85 with Compass Stored Value ($3.85 base fare + $5 AddFare) or $9.65 with Tap to Pay or cash ($4.65 base fare + $5 AddFare). Fares are lower during evenings and weekends when a one-zone rate applies across the network.
Note that regular zone fares across TransLink’s system are also increasing slightly, starting July 1, 2025. These increases will push the total cost from YVR to downtown to $9 using Stored Value and $9.85 using Tap to Pay/cash for the two-zone fare.
Certain riders are exempt from the AddFare, including those using monthly passes, travelers moving between stations solely on Sea Island (which is free), and residents of Sea Island’s Burkeville neighborhood.
TransLink YVR Airport Station fare machine showing Canada Line AddFare and free Sea Island travel.
First-Ever Increase: The AddFare Jumps in 2026
TransLink and the Mayors’ Council recently approved the first increase to the YVR Airport AddFare since its introduction. This move is part of a broader plan to boost revenue and address TransLink’s financial needs, supporting both service maintenance and future expansion.
Effective July 1, 2026, the YVR Airport AddFare will increase by $1.50, rising from $5 to $6.50. This represents a 30% jump in the surcharge itself.
Following this initial increase, the AddFare is planned to rise by two per cent annually starting in 2027.
This fare hike comes alongside average increases of five per cent to regular zone-based fares in 2026, followed by average two per cent annual increases in 2027.
How YVR’s Fare Compares to Other Airports
Even with the increase, the Canada Line remains a relatively affordable option compared to dedicated airport rail links in some other major North American cities.
- Toronto (UP Express): A one-way trip between downtown and Pearson Airport costs $12.35 (or $9.25 with Presto Card). Travel time is similar to the Canada Line (around 25 minutes), but the UP Express is a limited-stop service.
- Seattle (Link LRT): The adult fare between downtown and Sea-Tac Airport is currently US$3. The journey takes longer, about 40 minutes.
- San Francisco (BART): A ride between downtown and SFO Airport costs US$11.15, with a travel time of around 25 minutes.
Why Does the YVR AddFare Exist?
The primary reason for the YVR AddFare is rooted in the unique funding model for the Canada Line. Unlike other SkyTrain lines, the Canada Line was built under a public-private partnership (P3). A private consortium, ProTransBC (part of AtkinsRealis), designed, built, and partially financed the line.
The YVR AddFare revenue does not go to the Vancouver International Airport Authority. Instead, TransLink collects it and uses it to help repay the private concessionaire for a portion of their initial construction investment. This arrangement was part of the original agreement between TransLink, YVR, and the Canada Line concessionaire.
The Canada Line’s total construction cost was $2.054 billion. The private consortium contributed $720 million upfront, taking on “capital at-risk” against operational performance. TransLink is repaying this investment, plus ongoing operation and maintenance costs, through regular payments over the 30-year contract life, which runs until July 2040. The deferred amount owed to the concessionaire was $363 million at the end of 2024, down from the original $720 million. TransLink forecasts making annual payments of $142 million to $155 million to the consortium between 2025 and 2029.
The success of this P3 for the private partner reportedly influenced Quebec’s pension fund CDPQ’s significant investment in Montreal’s new REM metro network, which also includes an airport link.
Crowds at SkyTrain's Templeton Station on the Canada Line near YVR Airport Outlet Mall.
Adding another layer of funding complexity, the B.C. government also contributes to TransLink’s costs related to the Canada Line P3. The province provides TransLink with approximately $19.2 million annually to help cover a portion of the payments made to the concessionaire. These provincial payments have remained constant since 2009, without adjustment for inflation.
TransLink also has a similar P3 agreement for the Golden Ears Bridge, with ongoing payments owed to the private builder/operator. The province now provides TransLink with substantial funding, including a $2 billion upfront payment agreed in 2022, to compensate for the removal of tolls on the bridge.
Exterior view of YVR Airport Station for TransLink's Canada Line SkyTrain in Vancouver.
Ridership Trends and Future Growth
The Canada Line saw 42.1 million boardings in 2024, a significant rebound from pandemic lows but still below the 2019 peak of 50.2 million. This 84% recovery rate trails the Expo and Millennium lines (93% recovery), likely due to lower ridership to downtown and Central Broadway stations influenced by remote work.
However, ridership on the Canada Line’s segments serving Sea Island and Richmond has shown a much stronger recovery, nearing pre-pandemic levels. YVR Airport Station alone recorded 2.92 million boardings in 2024, close to the 3.14 million seen in 2019.
Future ridership growth on the Canada Line is anticipated from several factors:
- Continued high-density development along the Broadway, Cambie Street, and Richmond’s No. 3 Road corridors.
- Rising passenger volumes at YVR, which are approaching record levels, and overall tourism growth.
- The opening of the new Oakridge Park mall development, which includes a Canada Line station.
- The launch of the Millennium Line’s Broadway extension in 2027, which will turn Broadway–City Hall Station into a major transit hub, increasing transfers to the Canada Line.
The private concessionaire agreement for the Canada Line has been adjusted over the years to accommodate capacity upgrades like new trains and station additions such as Capstan Station, as well as integration planning for the Broadway Extension.
Golden Ears Bridge over the Fraser River connecting Langley and Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows.
What’s Next
The upcoming increase to the YVR Airport AddFare in July 2026 will add a notable cost for travelers using the Canada Line to access the airport. While positioned as a necessary revenue measure for TransLink, it highlights the long-term financial commitments tied to the Canada Line’s public-private partnership model, which extends until 2040.
The strong ridership recovery at YVR and in Richmond suggests that demand for the Canada Line remains robust, even with the current AddFare. Future development and infrastructure projects are expected to drive ridership even higher in the coming years.
TransLink faces the challenge of balancing necessary fare increases with maintaining affordability and encouraging transit use, especially as it navigates the financial obligations of past P3 agreements and plans for future service expansions. The upcoming review of the Canada Line’s operating contract expiring in 2040 will be a key future decision point for the transit authority.
