Pacific Coastal Airlines is high on the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, adding another non-stop route from Kelowna International Airport to the island.
Today, the airline announced it will launch daily flights (except Saturdays) between Kelowna and Comox starting June 25.
It will be the only direct air link between Kelowna and Comox Valley Airport (YQQ).
The 19-seat, turbo-propellor, Beachcraft 1900 airplane will leave Kelowna (YLW) at 8:45 am to arrive 9:55 am in Comox.
The plane will then turn around to depart Comox at 10:20 am and touch down in Kelowna at 11:30 am.
One-way fares start at $144 at www.pacificcoastal.com.
However, as a launch special, Pacific Coastal is offering a 20% discount when you use the promotional code KELCOM when booking online.
Pacific Coastal has served Kelowna airport for 11 years and also flies between Kelowna and Victoria twice daily and between Kelowna and Nanaimo daily.
"I am grateful for our long-standing partnership with Pacific Coastal Airlines as our city continues to grow and our airport evolves," said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas.
Comox is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island 115 kilometres north of Nanaimo and 220 kilometres north of Victoria.
Comox, population: 15,000, is one of three main communities in the Comox Valley, population: 73,000, along with Courtenay and Cumberland.
"Building on the success of our non-stop flights from Kelowna to Victoria and Nanaimo, we are excited to provide customers with a third gateway option to Vancouver Island from Kelowna with the introduction of our new Kelowna-Comox flight service," said Pacific Coastal vice-president Johnathan Richardson.
"Pacific Coastal Airlines continues to demonstrate the time value and economic benefits of connecting BC communities with non-stop flight options, avoiding the need to connect through major hub airports (such as Vancouver)."
Pacific Coastal is expecting a mix of business, tourist and visiting-friends-and-relatives passengers on the new route.
The coastal temperate rainforest of Comox Valley is touted as where mountains, farmlands and beaches meet.
Visitors to the region are drawn to glacier-fed Comox Lake for water activities and to ocean beaches and marinas for lounging, swimming, boating and salmon fishing.
Mount Washington Alpine Resort offers skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountain biking, hiking and ziplining in the summer.
"Vancouver Island is a popular destination for Okanagan residents, for both business and leisure, and we look forward to welcoming Comox Valley visitors to our region as well," said Kelowna airport CEO Sam Samadddar.
Comox will become the 20th non-stop destination from Kelowna.
In all, nine airlines operate more than 60 flights in and out of Kelowna daily to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Kitchener, Toronto, Montreal, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Los Cabos.
With the addition of Kelowna, Comox Valley Airport's non-stop destination count will go to six.
Currently, Pacific Coastal, Air Canada and WestJet fly between Comox and Vancouver and WestJet also has service to Calgary and Edmonton, Toronto (seasonal summer) and Puerto Vallarta (seasonal winter).
"Our residents love to travel and an Okanagan connection has been in high demand," said Mike Atkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport Commission.
"With quick and convenient service six days a week, we're eager to show off the nature and culture of the Comox Valley and be the perfect gateway to Vancouver Island for travellers from BC's Interior."
