Retro Vancouver CYVR: 25 Aircraft from the Archives — Part 1

Oct 29

This is the first in a series of posts looking back at aviation photography from Vancouver International Airport (YVR/CYVR) from 2016 to 2019. The 25 aircraft featured here represent a snapshot of the diverse international traffic that made Vancouver one of North America’s most rewarding spotting locations during that period. In the years since these photos were taken, several of the aircraft have been repainted, sold to new operators, converted or retired from service entirely, including a number of Boeing 747s that have since been scrapped as the type’s commercial retirement gradually accelerated. Among the highlights is ANA’s iconic R2D2 Boeing 787-9 special livery, one of the most recognisable Dreamliners ever to fly. Further parts in this series will cover additional aircraft from the same period and later at CYVR. Check out each photo caption for details about each aircraft featured in this post.

Qantas Boeing 747-400(ER) VH-OEG arriving at YVR in heavy rain on December 31st 2016. The aircraft was retired from Qantas service in 2020 and subsequently scrapped.

Air Transat Airbus A330-200 C-GUFR with the "Welcome" company livery on October 9th, 2016. It was scrapped in October 2026.

ANA Boeing 787-9 JA873A with its famous "Star Wars D2D2" livery in CYVR on December 31st, 2016. It was re-painted in standard ANA livery in August 2025.

China Souther Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) B-2049 on December 30th, 2016. The aircraft was delivered in its Skyteam livery in 2015 and would be re-painted in standard colours in 2019.

China Eastern Airbus A330-243 B-5942 with 60th anniversary decal departs CYVR on January 10th, 2017. The aircraft is still active and still wore the special decal in September 2026.

B-2035, Air China Boeing 777-300(ER) in the "Smiling China" livery departs CYVR on January 10th, 2017 with the airport's Fairmont hotel and North shore mountains in the background.

Westjet's C-GWSV, a Boeing 737-800 with the colourful "Disney's Frozen" special livery departing CYVR on January 10th, 2017. It was repainted to the new airline livery in June 2024.

China Eastern Airbus A330-200 B-5938 in the airline's old livery departs arrives at CYVR on runway 26L on March 17th 2017.

Beijing Capital Airlines Airbus A330-200 B-8550 in Tuniu.com livery arrives in CYVR on March 17th, 2017. It was converted to freighter in 2025 and re-registered as B-LMA with Hong Kong Air cargo.

Transport Canada Dehavilland Canada DHC-8 C-GSUR taxies out for a patrol from CYVR on March 27th, 2017.

Volga-Dnepr Antonov AN-124 RA-82043 on March 29th, 2017. The aircraft has been grounded in Leipzig-Halle (LEJ/EDDP), Germany since January 28th, 2022.

Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300(ER) C-GHPN on March 30th, 2017. The aircraft is now flying as a freighter in China with YTO Cargo Airlines and registered B-221H

China Airlines Boeing 747-400 B-18212 on March 30th, 2017. The second-to-last 747-400 built, it was retired in February 2020 and scrapped in February 2024.

China Southern Airlines Boeing 787-8 B-2732 in the "Wings of Dreams" livery on final at CYVR on March 30th, 2017.

Kelowna Aerospace Convair CV-580 C-GKFG landing at CYVR on March 30th, 2017. It was retired in 2026 and sold for parts to Buffalo Airways.

British Airways Boeing 747-400 G-CIVN arriving at CYVR on March 30th, 2017. The jet was retired in March 2020 and scrapped in December 2023.

Air Canada Boeing 767-300(ER) C-FCAF on April 4th, 2017. It was retired on April 7th, 2018 and scrapped in June 2019.

Seair Seaplanes Cessna 208 C-GURL departing the CYVR water aerodrome on April 4th, 2017. The aircraft was destroyed in a crash on July 19th, 2026.

Alaska Airlines DeHavilland Canada DHC-8-400 N403QX in the "Montana State University Bobcats" special livery in CYVR on April 5th, 2017. The aircraft would join PAL Airlines in 2023 as C-GPGH.

Canadian North Boeing 737-300 C-GCNW at CYVR on April 7th, 2017. The aircraft was placed in storage in Hamburg, Germany (HAM/EDDH) in 2023.

Sunwing Boeing 737-800 C-FDBD on April 11th, 2017. The airline was completely integrated into Westjet on May 29th, 2025. This aircraft was retired and scrapped in 2020.

China Eastern Airbus A330-200 B-5949 in Skyteam livery. The aircraft is still active with China Eastern and is still in the Skyteam livery.

Eva Air's Boeing 747-400 B-16412 arriving at CYVR on April 25th, 2017. It was retired in July 2017 and scrapped in 2021.

Edelweiss Airbus A340-300 HB-JMG arriving at CYVR on May 11th, 2017. On October 13th, 2025 It became the first A340 to be retired by the airline and would be scrapped in July 2026.

United Boeing 737-800 N26210 in Star Alliance livery at CYVR on June 21st, 2017. It is still active in this livery at publication time.

Patrick Lalande

Retro Vancouver CYVR: 25 Aircraft from the Archives — Part 1

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