Charter bus pick-ups at Winnipeg Richardson (YWG)
Winnipeg charges for curb time. Licensed vehicles are tracked by transponder and pay dwell fees on the commercial curb, so the bus should reach the curb when the group does, not before.
Licensed, pre-arranged, booked
Anyone providing transportation at, to or from the airport needs an annual ground transportation licence from Winnipeg Airports Authority, and that licence covers pre-arranged service only. A bus cannot be hired on the spot at the terminal.
Licensed operators also pay a per-pick-up fee by vehicle size. The largest class covers vehicles of 25 to 100 seats, which takes in most coaches. Check the quote shows whether it is included.
The commercial curb on Level 1
Pre-arranged providers collect at the commercial curb, and arriving passengers are picked up on Arrivals Level 1. Parking, waiting or leaving a vehicle unattended in front of the terminal is prohibited. A free Cell Phone Lot lies east of the terminal on Wellington Avenue; ask the operator where the bus itself will hold.
Put one person in charge of the call to the driver: bags collected, heads counted, group walking out.
Where the driver meets you
- Pre-arranged transportation providers collect passengers at the commercial curb; arriving passengers are picked up on Arrivals Level 1.
Where coaches and buses wait
- Licensed vehicles use an automatic vehicle identification (AVI) transponder; dwell fees are added for time spent on the commercial curb, so vehicles should not wait there longer than needed.
Drive to downtown
- about 9 km (about 12 km by road to Portage and Main), about 20 min in light traffic
Wheelchair users
Accessible pick-up spots are along the median on Arrivals Level 1 and at the curb on Departures Level 2. If a passenger needs a lift-equipped vehicle, say so and name the spot in the booking.
Downtown, The Forks and game nights
Portage and Main is about 12 km by road, a drive of roughly 20 minutes with light traffic. Hotels in the Polo Park and airport area are closer.
The Forks has no bus parking; buses may set down and pick up there, and parking is arranged through the City or The Forks North Portage Partnership. At the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, buses set down at the Group Entrance, 85 Israel Asper Way, park elsewhere and may come back 15 minutes before the program ends. For a Jets game at Canada Life Centre, fix the post-game pick-up point before the puck drops.
Questions
Can the bus wait outside arrivals?
No. Waiting in front of the terminal is prohibited, and licensed vehicles pay dwell fees for time spent on the commercial curb.
Can any coach company do the pick-up?
Only one holding the annual Winnipeg Airports Authority licence. Check before booking a company that does not normally work at the airport.
We continue to the United States. What documents?
Trips to Grand Forks and Fargo cross at Emerson on Highway 75. Canadian citizens need a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced driver's licence; children under 16, or under 19 in a school or youth group, need only proof of citizenship.
Cities
Vehicles
- Full-size coach — 49-81 seats
- Midi coach — 29-35 seats
- Minibus — 16-19 seats
- Executive Sprinter van — 17-19 seats
- Executive car (sedan or SUV) — 1-3 seats
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — Varies by layout; wheelchair positions replace seats
Group landing in Winnipeg?
Send the flights, numbers, bags and first stop. Licensed partner operators price it and you decide whether to go ahead.
Request a quote or call +1 438 809 0370