Travel Advisories

About

Pacific Coastal Airlines is a privately owned British Columbia-based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR) that currently flies to 17 airports in British Columbia. We are the sixth-largest airline operating at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) based on total outbound seats, and the third-largest based on take-offs and landings. Connecting to additional destinations along the south coast of British Columbia through its affiliate airline Wilderness Seaplanes, located in Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island.

Pacific Coastal Airlines is proud to operate flights on behalf of WestJet through a Capacity Purchase Agreement (CPA). WestJet Link was created to connect smaller cities in British Columbia and Alberta with WestJet’s domestic hub at the Calgary International Airport (YYC) with non-stop service to Cranbrook (YXC), Lethbridge (YQL), Lloydminster (YLL), and Medicine Hat (YXH). WestJet Link also serves Vancouver International Airport (YVR) with non-stop service to Cranbrook (YXC), Comox (YQQ), Kamloops (YKA), and Nanaimo (YCD).

We honour our motto of People Friendly, People First. An equal opportunity employer, we encourage a positive, caring workplace and put a high value on collaboration, accountability, and loyalty. We are very proud to give back and to support the communities that we serve.

Safety

Safety is our first priority. It is embedded in our corporate values and each and every employee at Pacific Coastal Airlines is responsible for safety at all times. We administer a comprehensive internal safety process and fully comply with all Transport Canada rules and regulations.

Governance

Pacific Coastal Airlines Ltd. is a privately owned and operated company registered in British Columbia.

Founder: Daryl Smith

  • President: Quentin Smith
  • Vice President, Operations: Darcy Coonfer
  • Vice President, Customer & Commercial: Johnathan Richardson

Administration

Phone: 604-214-2358 then option #6

Pacific Coastal Airlines Head Office
4980 Cowley Crescent,
Richmond, B.C. V7B 1C1

Pacific Coastal Airlines Tax Registration #121386296 RT0001

Aircraft

We operate a mixed fleet of aircraft perfectly suited to the unique flying conditions in British Columbia.

Community Support & Sponsorship

Pacific Coastal Airlines is proud to be part a part of the communities we serve. Our commitment includes support for various local charities and organizations throughout the year. If you would like us to consider being a donor, or sponsor of an event in your community, please take a moment to review our Community Support page.

Annual Memorial Charity Golf Tournament

Pacific Coastal has hosted its Annual Memorial Charity Golf Tournament for many years, with golfers and sponsors coming from across Canada to help raise funds for two important B.C. – based charities.

Awards & Recognition

Pacific Coastal has received numerous awards and recognition from various organizations over the years. Some of the most recent include, but are not limited to:

  • Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society – special recognition 2014
  • BC SPCA Caring Company of the Year Award (2013)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medallion (President Quentin Smith) for long term support of Special Olympics BC (2013)
  • Hope Air Philanthropist of the Year Award (Quentin Smith) 2013
  • Richmond Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award (President Quentin Smith) 2013
  • Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre – special recognition (2011)

History

Pacific Coastal Airlines was founded by Daryl Smith nearly forty years ago. The truck logger in Bella Coola, a small community on the central coast of British Columbia, decided to get a pilot’s license and purchased a small seaplane to make it easier to get in and out of remote camps. Some friends chipped in for fuel to tag along and thus began the adventure that led to Pacific Coastal Airlines.

Daryl earned his reputation through forty-two years of aviation experience as a pilot and owner of several regional carriers during the most significant era of aviation history in the province. That legacy of dedication and hard work continues with his son, President Quentin Smith , intimately involved in all aspects of the aviation business started by their father. A legendary figure in British Columbia aviation, Daryl has received numerous awards and accolades from his peers and industry associations alike.

Tale of the Tails

A British Columbia based company, we owe our existence to the people and the many communities we serve. We wanted our brand to reflect that, but when the subject of plane tail artwork came up we found it difficult to sum up all that is B.C. in a single image. When the artist asked us to choose from one of the several icons, we just smiled and said “We’ll take ‘em all”, so each of our tails has a unique story to tell.