Information and Travel Guide for Halifax International Airport
Halifax International Airport (YHZ)

The Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport, also referred to as just the Halifax International Airport, is located 22 miles from Halifax itself. As the seventh busiest airport in Canada, the Halifax International Airport takes care of more than 3.5 million travellers each year. Flights come from all over the country as well as Europe and the United States. Currently the facility is under major restoration and renovations and has been since 1998. The final phase is expected to finish soon, which will decrease travel wait times for passengers when boarding flights to the United States.

History

Once just a lonely airfield located at the West End, Halifax area, the Halifax airport was the city's main and only airport until 1942. After it was secured as a military base known as Saunders Park, a new site was constructed at Kelly Lake to operate as the city's airport. Extreme fog often interrupted operations at the facility and some blamed the tree cutting that went on between 1960 and 2008, but this has been shown to be a myth. In September 2005 the airport renamed its main passenger terminal after Robert Stanfield and in 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper renamed the airport officially to "Robert L. Stanfield International Airport" to honour the former Premier of Nova Scotia.

Services and Amenities

Travellers visiting the Halifax International Airport will find a long list of amenities including business services. This facility does not carry any conference rooms; however there are multiple hotels nearby that accommodate business travellers who need large conference areas. The Halifax International Airport does have workstations, pay phones and a departure lounge for all business-class travellers.

In addition to business services the airport offers:
  • ATMs, currency exchange and other financial services
  • Short-term luggage storage
  • A few shopping boutiques
  • Fast-food and juice bars
  • Chapels
  • Children's play areas
  • Massage stands
  • Free Wi-Fi

Parking

Currently the Halifax International Airport offers short and long-term parking. Hourly car parks are available with no daily limits. Spots cannot be booked ahead of time and all parking is first come, first serve.

Surrounding Area

Currently the airport is undergoing several renovations; therefore passengers can experience some delay when passing through areas under construction. The Halifax International Airport does have a pre-clearance area, which allows travellers a chance to quickly go through customs, check-in and other screening processes faster and with shorter queue wait times. By doing so, travellers can board planes much faster than going through average check-ins. There is no expected completion date on renovations; therefore, when traveling in or out of the Halifax International Airport travellers should plan additional time to handle any construction disturbances.

Travellers should also note that there are not many shops or restaurant facilities, especially past security. Therefore, travellers should grab food or other necessary items before going through the security clearance and checkpoints.

Contact Information:

IATA Airport Code: YHZ
Location: The airport is located 35km (21 miles) north of Halifax
Telephone: +1 902 873 4422
Address: Halifax International Airport, 1 Bell Boulevard, Enfield, NS, Canada, B2T 1K2 
Number of Terminals: 1
Fax: +1 902 873 4750
E-mail: info@hiaa.ca
Website: www.halifax-airport.com
Time Zone: GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October)