Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) runs from a single modern passenger terminal that handles domestic, US transborder and seasonal international flights under one roof. The building splits into a landside zone (open to anyone, with check-in, car-hire desks, ATMs and cafés) and an airside zone past security, reserved for passengers with a boarding pass. Knowing which side a service sits on saves time: you cannot, for example, reach the airside shops until you have cleared the screening point.
Facilities at a glance
| Facility | Where in the terminal |
|---|---|
| Check-in & airline desks | Departures hall, landside |
| Shops & souvenirs | Airside, after security |
| Restaurants & cafés | Both landside and airside |
| Car-rental desks | Arrivals hall |
| ATMs | Landside |
| Free Wi-Fi | Throughout the building |
Arrivals flow
Passengers landing at YHZ follow a fixed sequence. On an international arrival you reach immigration, then baggage claim, then the customs check, before stepping into the public arrivals hall. That hall is where the rental-car counters sit and where the exit leads to the ground-transportation area for taxis just outside. A simple order to remember is immigration, then baggage, then the taxi area. For the full landing routine, including entry requirements, see our arrivals guide.
Departures flow
Leaving works in the opposite direction. You start at the check-in or bag-drop desks in the departures hall, move through the security screening point, and only then reach the airside area. Beyond the gates you will find shops, a handful of cafés and bars, and souvenir counters stocking Nova Scotia maple products, local crafts and Nova Scotia wine and spirits, plus seating near the boarding gates. In short, the departure rhythm runs check-in, then security, then shopping. Because the shops and dining sit past the screening point, it pays to leave spare time after security rather than dashing straight for the gate. Our departures guide covers recommended arrival times in more detail.
Services & accessibility
Everyday essentials are covered landside. You will find:
- ATMs dispensing Canadian dollars
- Cafés and a small selection of shops before security
- Free Wi-Fi reaching across the whole building
- Mobility assistance for passengers who need it, which you should request through your airline in advance rather than on the day
Signage and announcements run in English and French, Canada's two official languages, and staff commonly serve passengers in English. One caveat worth noting: opening hours for individual shops, restaurants and lounges shift with the flight schedule and the season, so the airport's official channels are the place to confirm exact times close to your travel date.