Whitehorse / Erik Nielsen International Airport guide

Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport serves Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon, and sits on a plateau just west of downtown. It is the territory's main air hub and an airport of entry. The airport takes its name from Erik Nielsen, a longtime Yukon member of Parliament, and was renamed in his honour in December 2008.

The airfield was expanded in 1940 and 1941 by the federal Department of Transport. It then served as RCAF Station Whitehorse on the Northwest Staging Route from 1942 until 1968, when it returned to civilian use. Two long asphalt runways handle the traffic: 14R/32L at 2,896 m and 14L/32R at 2,011 m. The territorial government owns the airport, which is part of Canada's National Airports System.

Air North, Yukon's airline, is based here and uses the airport as its hub. Air Canada flies to Vancouver, and WestJet operates seasonal service to Calgary. In 2024 arrivals reached a record of more than 225,000. A retired Canadian Pacific Air Lines DC-3 mounted in the parking lot acts as a weather vane.