Richmond, BC – Pacific Coastal Airlines is delighted to announce the successful launch of its six weekly non-stop flights between Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and Kamloops Airport (YKA). The first flights took place yesterday, October 17, 2023, marking a significant milestone for Pacific Coastal Airlines and offering improved travel options for passengers in both cities.

Distinguished executives, politicians, airport authorities, tourism organizations and First Nation representatives attended the celebratory events held at Victoria International Airport and Kamloops Airport, highlighting the importance of this new route in connecting communities and fostering seamless travel experiences.

At Victoria International Airport, the inaugural event featured speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the distribution of branded goodies to passengers. In Kamloops, festivities encompassed a fire truck water salute for the aircraft, a ribbon cutting, speeches, branded treats, and a warm welcome by representatives from the local First Nations, Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc, who offered their hospitality and traditional blessings.

These events celebrated the partnership between Pacific Coastal Airlines and the respective airports, signifying a commitment to providing enhanced travel options for residents and visitors in these regions.

Furthermore, Pacific Coastal Airlines announced the extension of the YYJ-YKA route to a year-round service, a decision made in response to the strong demand seen in initial bookings and the positive feedback from its valued customers. This represents an important shift from the route’s initial announcement as a seasonal service.

Johnathan Richardson, VP of Customer & Commercial, expressed his enthusiasm about this new route, highlighting that “Our team is proud to offer the only non-stop flight option between Victoria and Kamloops, reducing travel time to only be 1 hour. We are grateful to our customers strong response since we first announced this service and are delighted to extend this route to be year-round.”

Representatives from Victoria and Kamloops airport authorities and tourism organizations also shared their excitement and enthusiasm about the new route.

“YYJ is excited about Pacific Coastal’s announcement that the new Victoria -Kamloops service will be year-round,” said Rod Hunchak, Victoria Airport Authority Director, Business Development and Community Relations.   “This new direct service has been well received by travellers, providing convenient connectivity between southern Vancouver Island and the BC Interior.  Pacific Coastal Airlines has long been a key partner at YYJ, and we look forward to working with them on developing new opportunities for the future.”

“We welcome the return of our valued partner Pacific Coastal Airlines to the Kamloops market with service to Victoria,” said Ed Ratuski, Managing Director, Kamloops Airport. “Securing a nonstop flight between the two cities has been on our radar for some time and we are excited about the opportunities this new service will offer both business and leisure travellers at both ends of the route.”

“We are excited about the new route from Victoria to Kamloops and look forward to welcoming Victoria area guests to Sun Peaks.  With the mountain opening date fast approaching (November 18th), the timing is ideal for skiers and snowboarders from the Victoria area to experience Canada’s 2nd largest ski area,” says Arlene Schieven, President and CEO at Tourism Sun Peaks.

“The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association is very excited for Kamloops and to have this new flight into the region from Victoria. Pacific Coastal has continued to support the entire Thompson Okanagan with increased flight capacity to many locations adding much needed service for our residents and visitors,” says Ellen Walker-Matthews, TOTA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Acacia Pangilinan, Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce said “The Kamloops & District Chamber extends our heartfelt thanks to Pacific Coastal and all those involved in launching the new flight route from Kamloops to Victoria. This exciting addition not only connects our communities but opens up a world of opportunities for our local businesses. We’re thrilled to witness the positive impact this route will have on our region’s economy and look forward to a brighter future of increased collaboration and growth. Thank you for making this possible.”

“Today’s inaugural flight is a positive sign for our community and tourism industry. We know that opening up more ways of getting to our city is key to a continued thriving tourism economy. Thank you to Pacific Coastal Airlines, Kamloops Airport Ltd., Vantage Airport Group, Kamloops Airport Authority Society, and every other partner who made this route possible. Your dedication to enhancing access to Kamloops and our tourism experiences is greatly valued,” said Monica Dickinson, Chief Executive Officer, of Tourism Kamloops.

Bill Sarai, Kamloops Airport Authority Society President, added, “We are beyond pleased that Pacific Coastal Airlines will begin offering daily service to Victoria, with the exception of Saturdays, beginning today. This new route will complement both pleasure and business travellers and we are excited for this route to take off. We look forward to working with Pacific Coastal Airlines to identify additional opportunities of interest in our region.”

Tickets for these new routes are now available for purchase. Passengers can book their flights by visiting Pacific Coastal Airlines’ website, contacting the Call Centre at 1-800-663-2872, or reaching out to their preferred travel agent.

To celebrate the launch of these new flights, Pacific Coastal Airlines is offering a special promotion. Passengers can enjoy a 20% discount on flights to/from Victoria (YYJ) and Kamloops (YKA) using the promo code YKAYYJ20. More details can be found on the Pacific Coastal Airlines website.

Pacific Coastal Airlines is devoted to connecting communities and providing convenient travel options, with a network that spans across British Columbia.

View photos from the events by clicking on this link

 

About Pacific Coastal Airlines

Pacific Coastal Airlines is a privately-owned British Columbia-based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR) that flies to 18 airports in British Columbia. 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.

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 Media contact:
Quentin Smith, President
Email: corpcom@pacificcoastal.com