Route
YVR south terminal ↔ Nanaimo, Gulf Islands
Flight time
~20–35 min
One-way fare
~$120–$200
Check-in
Short, no security line
Parking
Cheaper at the YVR south terminal
Pets
Hard case in the hold, against baggage

What it is like

Seair runs out of the south terminal at YVR rather than downtown, which suits you if you are arriving by car from Richmond or the airport rather than the city core. It is a small, friendly operation, the kind of place where the staff recognise regulars. The flight itself is pure floatplane: a water takeoff, the Gulf Islands below, and a dock at the far end, twenty to thirty-five minutes later.

Routes and schedule

The core runs are the YVR south terminal to Nanaimo and to the Gulf Islands, which is where Seair is especially handy: it is one of the better ways to reach islands like Salt Spring without a ferry connection. The schedule is smaller than Harbour Air's, so there are fewer departures across the day and fewer fallback flights if one is cancelled. Check current times with Seair.

What it costs

One-way fares run roughly $120 to $200. The quiet money-saver is parking: the south-terminal lots are cheaper and easier than anything downtown, which can tip the all-in cost in Seair's favour on a longer trip even though the fare is similar to the downtown floatplane. Compare it directly in the value calculator on the main guide.

Reliability and weather

Like every floatplane, Seair flies by sight, so fog and low cloud from November to March can cancel flights. The difference from Harbour Air is the smaller schedule: if your flight goes, the next one may be hours away, so there is less room to absorb a delay. In winter, or against a tight connection, treat it accordingly and build in slack.

Who it is for

Book it if

  • You are coming from the airport side of Vancouver, not downtown.
  • You are heading to the Gulf Islands or central Island.
  • Cheaper parking matters on a multi-day trip.

Skip it if

  • You need frequent departures or easy rebooking in bad weather.
  • You are downtown and Harbour Air is the closer dock.
  • Your pet will not fit a hard case in the hold.

Booking tips

Book ahead, since seats and schedule are limited. If you are weighing it against Harbour Air, the deciding factors are usually where you are starting from and your parking, not the fare. Pack light for floatplane baggage limits, and leave slack in winter.

How Seair ranks

On the main guide it lands mid-table, a solid floatplane held back by its smaller schedule and the tightest cabin access of the six.

Experience #3 Speed #3 Service #3 Parking #4 Reliability #5 Accessibility last

Where to next

Compare Seair against every other option, or read up on the alternatives.

All six ways across → Harbour Air floatplane → BC Ferries →