YKA hopes to expand discount flight options, add more destinations after Flair announcement
Feb 10, 2023 | 3:31 PM
Aaron Schulze
KAMLOOPS — Following the announcement of Flair Airlines’ direct service from Kamloops Airport (YKA) to Edmonton, YKA is still hopeful to include more discount flights options and fly to additional cities.
Kamloops Airport Managing Director Ed Ratuski says a route to Edmonton has been on YKA’s key target list for years. He says the Kamloops-Edmonton direct service hasn’t been offered since WestJet in 2016, but the traffic has historically been there. He credits WestJet’s decision to focus more of its operations in further east and diverting aircrafts in the west, including the Kamlooops-Edmonton route, as the main reason it was cancelled.
“We’ve been hearing anecdotally over the last few years that there’s been an impact on the resource workers, and friends and family not having convenient access to Edmonton from Kamloops,” Ratuski told CFJC Today. “We’re looking forward to reintroducing the service, particularly with a low-cost carrier. That’s one thing the community has been looking for; to get some low-cost options in and out of Kamloops.”
Ratuski says Flair has indicated to YKA that is intends to provide a year-round service from Kamloops to Edmonton, and build a long-term relationship with the airport.
YKA got a glimpse of discount airlines in 2018 and 2019 with Air Canada Rouge’s non-stop service to Toronto. Ratuski says the airport was hoping to restart its service to Edmonton via Swoop in summer 2020, although the COVID-19 pandemic halted those plans.
Additionally, Ratuski says there are still two key destinations YKA hopes to have service to and from: Toronto and Victoria.
“Having a non-stop connection to the provincial capital would be excellent for the community… Toronto as well,” Ratuski says. “Particularly in our peak winter season. That’s when we see the challenges with not being able to fully accommodate all the guests efficiently who are coming to enjoy the winter activities in Kamloops.”
The YKA to YEG route via Flair takes off June 15.
