Four new weekly flights between YYF and YVR to begin in January

Air Canada may have left the South Okanagan in the lurch a month ago when it announced it was discontinuing service to and from Penticton Regional Airport (YYF) as of January 2024.

But Richmond-based Pacific Coastal Airlines announced this morning that it'll ride to the rescue -- somewhat -- when it amends its current schedule with four additional morning flights per week between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) South Terminal and YYF beginning Jan. 4, 2024.

The new schedule will operate through April 26, 2024.

"Today’s announcement of additional flights between Vancouver and Penticton follows our recent growth of introducing new non-stop service between Nanaimo and Kelowna, and Victoria and Kamloops," said Johnathan Richardson, Pacific Coastal Airlines' VP of Customer and Commercial in the Nov. 1 media release.

"We are eager to continue our growth by providing vital air service to support local communities, tourism and businesses.”

Local reaction was also baked into the release. And it was, as expected, overwhelmingly positive.

"This is welcome news and reinforces that Penticton is a growing, vibrant community," said Mayor Julius Bloomfield. "The data from our survey indicated the demand for frequent air travel -- for business, tourism and social reasons -- is on the increase and we’re pleased that our meeting with Pacific Coastal Airlines to discuss additional service has led to these new flights.

"We know this will help to drive continued growth and thank Pacific Coastal for showing belief in Penticton and the entire South Okanagan.”

Travel Penticton executive director Tom Tischik was just as glowing.

"We are absolutely delighted Pacific Coastal Airlines will be offering additional flights and much needed morning service to Vancouver,” he said. "These additional flights will be extremely beneficial to our business community, conference delegates and for our city and regional residents to more efficiently access national and international connections out of YVR."

The new flights, utilizing a 19-passenger, twin-engine Beechcraft 1900, will leave the YVR South Terminal at 7:55 AM every Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday and arrive at YYF at 8:51 AM. The trip back to YVR will depart at 9:15 AM and arrive at the South Terminal at 10:17 AM.

The newbie flights will complement the current schedule, which sees Sunday-to-Friday afternoon return trips that leave YVR at 2:35 PM and arrive at YYF at 3:31 PM, then leave YYF at 3:55 PM and arrive at YVR at 4:57 PM.

There's even a temporary 15% discount for customers who book flights with PCA using the promo code "PCAPenticton."

However, the release did not address what happens after the new winter schedule ends on April 26. When contacted for comment, the PCA Brand and Communications Team told PentictonNow the schedule beyond April 26 is yet to be finalized.

"At this time we are still working to finalize our schedule offering between Vancouver and Penticton after April 2024," said the emailed reply. "We will keep customers informed once we finalize and publish our summer schedule. Our priority remains enhancing connectivity to the Thompson Okanagan region."

To book flights with Pacific Coastal Airlines, call 1-800-663-2872 or go to its website here.