A significant influx of private jets is anticipated for the upcoming World Cup soccer matches in Vancouver this summer, presenting a unique business opportunity for the executive air terminal at Pitt Meadows Regional Airport. The operator of this suburban facility is positioning itself to capture overflow traffic from Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which is expected to handle the majority of VIP arrivals.
Pitt Meadows Terminal Seeks Overflow Traffic
Geoff Bowering, owner of Integrity Flight Support at the Pitt Meadows airfield, noted that while most private jet traffic will naturally go to YVR, some operators may seek alternative airports due to capacity constraints. "But some will look and say, 'We might as well go to the outlying airports,' and others will be forced to because Vancouver is full," Bowering explained. His team has been actively marketing the Pitt Meadows facility, located 30 kilometres east of downtown Vancouver, to convince operators that it is a convenient option for accessing the soccer action starting June 13.
Bowering stated, "We may see some overflow traffic here, and we're certainly preparing ourselves for that." The terminal is ready to accommodate additional flights and provide services to VIP guests.
Industry Anticipates Surge in Private Flights
Estimating the exact number of private jets remains challenging, as reservations are just beginning. However, Melissa Lucas Thomas, a consultant to the business-aviation sector, suggests that up to 900 private jets could arrive across the seven World Cup games in Vancouver. YVR, already Canada's second-busiest airport for commercial travel, also serves as a key hub for business aviation. The Canadian Business Aircraft Association predicts a 30 per cent increase in private flights during the tournament.
"Everybody's on hot-standby to figure it out," said Harlan Simkins, CEO of the association. The World Cup spans 16 host cities across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, leading to extensive cross-continental private jet movements.
Unprecedented Scale Compared to Major Events
Lucas Thomas emphasized the uniqueness of this event: "We, as an industry, actually have nothing quite to compare it to. The closest thing we have to compare it to is the Super Bowl, which is kind a one-day thing, or something like the Masters." Following the recent Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, 239 private jets departed from the city's small regional airport, according to Business Insider. However, the World Cup's global reach and multi-city format present a far larger logistical challenge.
"The World Cup has an international component, with visitors coming from all continents, and because of the complexity of operating in three host countries over several weeks, the industry is preparing as though it is going to be multiple Super Bowls for these host cities," Lucas Thomas added.
