Williams Lake Airport (CYWL)
Medium airport · Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Airport data
| Name | Williams Lake Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | CYWL |
| IATA | YWL |
| Elevation | 3,085 ft (940 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 52°10'59" W 122°3'14" 52.18310, -122.05400 |
| Location | Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/30 | 7,000 ft (2134 m) | 150 ft | ASP | Yes |
Williams Lake Airport at a glance
Williams Lake Airport is a medium airport in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada, known to airline systems as YWL. The field elevation of 3,085 ft (940 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at CYWL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 12/30, offers 7,000 ft (2134 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 12 points roughly 120° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for CYWL shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Williams Lake Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Quesnel Airport | CYQZ | 99 km (53 NM) |
| Cache Creek-Ashcroft Regional Airport | CAZ5 | 165 km (89 NM) |
| Blue River Airport | CYCP | 189 km (102 NM) |
| Prince George (International) Airport | CYXS | 194 km (105 NM) |
| Kamloops John Moose Fulton Field Regional Airport | CYKA | 199 km (107 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Williams Lake Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 3,085 ft field elevation of Williams Lake Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 250 airports and airfields we list for Canada — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Williams Lake Airport
What is the ICAO code of Williams Lake Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Williams Lake Airport is CYWL, and its IATA code is YWL. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Williams Lake Airport above sea level?
Williams Lake Airport sits at an elevation of 3,085 feet (940 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Williams Lake Airport located?
The airport lies at 52.1831, -122.0540 — in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Quesnel Airport, about 99 km away.
Does CYWL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for CYWL appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Williams Lake Airport?
Williams Lake Airport has one runway. The longest, 12/30, measures 7,000 ft (2134 m) with a ASP surface.