Richmond, BC – Pacific Coastal Airlines is stepping up to help two Vancouver Island communities that are isolated due to the recent closure of Highway 4, also known as the Pacific Rim Highway. The highway, which has been undergoing construction upgrades over the past year, closed to traffic in both directions on Thursday due to a scheduled construction blast that badly damaged a section of the road.

While the road will open for a brief period this afternoon, traffic will be limited to essential travel only. This means that local residents and tourists may have to wait to travel until repair of the damaged section is completed. Pacific Coastal offers regularly scheduled flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) South Terminal and Tofino-Long Beach Airport (YAZ) but does not operate a Saturday flight during the winter schedule, so this is not a regular occurrence.

“We’re pleased to step up to assist the people in these communities by adding an extra flight on Saturday, January 25”, says Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Kevin Boothroyd. “In doing so we hope to relieve some of the backlog of passengers attempting to get in or out of the communities”.

The airline will reach out to the hospital and health association to determine if there is a need for the airline to provide cargo services for essential medicine or medical supplies. The extra flight will operate as follows:

• Flight 8P1623 departs YVR 13:35; arrives at YAZ 14:20
• Flight 8P1624 departs YAZ 14:50, arrives YVR 15:35

Passengers seeking to book on that flight can do so at pacificcoastal.com or contact the Call Centre at 1.800.663.2872

About Pacific Coastal Airlines
A privately owned British Columbia based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR), Pacific Coastal is the sixth-largest airline operating at YVR, based on outbound seats, and third largest in takeoffs and landings. It flies to 16 airports in British Columbia, including destinations from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Prince George, and Masset on the legendary island of Haida Gwaii, and as far west as Tofino. With its affiliate airline Wilderness Seaplanes, located in Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, Pacific Coastal connects to more than 50 additional destinations along the south coast. Pacific Coastal also operates WestJet Link, which provides service from its base in Calgary to Cranbrook, Prince George, Lethbridge, Lloydminster, and Medicine Hat, and between Vancouver and Cranbrook. Pacific Coastal’s network encompasses major ski destinations, a multitude of fishing lodges, outdoor and wildlife adventure tours, and authentic First Nations cultural experiences.

Media contact:

Pacific Coastal Airlines
Kevin Boothroyd, Director Business Development and Corporate Communications
(M) 604.833.6265
(W) 604.214.2388
Email: kevin.boothroyd@pacificcoastal.com