Noise Management Plan

At YVR, we are committed to being a leader in sustainability and a responsible neighbour. That means we undertake proactive efforts to reduce environmental impacts of our operations and have a comprehensive program to manage aircraft noise.

YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Program aims to minimize aircraft noise disturbances while balancing the need for 24-hour airport operations to serve the community and the economy that supports it. The Noise Management Plan helps guide work efforts and is an integral part of advancing the goals and objectives of the Program.

2025-2029 Noise Management Plan

In 2024, we undertook work to create the new Noise Management Plan for the years 2025 through 2029. While the last Noise Management Plan ended in 2023, the work to create a new Plan was deferred due to many challenges and unknowns in the aviation sector following the global pandemic.

We worked closely with the members of YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (ANMC) to create the Plan, soliciting their input on key focus areas and potential initiatives and providing updates regularly. We also engaged with our Musqueam partners to identify issues of concern, and we invited the broader community to complete an online questionnaire to provide input into the creation of the new Plan. Additional information on the process and work efforts to create the new Plan is provided in the 2025-2029 Noise Management Plan document. A summary of what we heard through the online questionnaire and how they helped shape several key initiatives is provided below.

Input and suggestions received were reviewed and evaluated to form the foundation of 12 key areas of focus and supporting initiatives to guide our work efforts over the next five years. The Plan was reviewed and accepted by Transport Canada in Spring 2025.

Community Engagement - Online Questionnaire

To support the development of the new Noise Management Plan, YVR launched an online questionnaire from April 27 to July 14, 2024. The survey included 13 closed and open-ended questions focused on aircraft noise in the community, the Noise Management Program, and potential new initiatives, as well as YVR’s communication and engagement efforts. It was promoted through YVR’s social media channels and YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee (ANMC).

A total of 430 individuals responded. Among them, 66% reported feeling annoyed by aircraft noise at home in the past 12 months. Top concerns included day and night operations, frequency of flights near their homes, and overall air traffic growth. This feedback helped identify current community concerns and guide focus areas for the new Plan. When asked about communications, many respondents preferred finding information online and identified social media and the YVR website as key sources for updates, including irregular operations. Based on this input, several new initiatives were developed to improve information sharing and community engagement around noise management.

While not all suggestions could be implemented—such as closing the airport at night or rerouting flight paths, which fall outside YVR’s authority—we remain committed to reviewing and refining our noise management practices. We will continue working closely with stakeholders and industry partners to minimize community noise impacts wherever possible. Please view the 2025-2029 YVR Noise Management Plan for the list of work focus areas and associated initiatives.

We would like to thank the members of the community who participated in the survey and provided valuable input and feedback into creating the new Noise Management Plan. If you have any questions, please contact the YVR Noise Management team.