An Air North Boeing 737-400 aircraft. (Photo via Air North)
The success of a pair of “limited edition” Air North flights between Kamloops, Vancouver, and Whitehorse could help determine if the airline begins service to the Tournament Capital.
That is according to Kamloops Airport Managing Director, Ed Ratuski.
“We had been discussing a potential route similar to this one with Air North prior to COVID. So this was just an opportunity to test the waters, if you will, and see what the reaction is,” Ratuski told NL News.
“If it is a solid route for them, they will definitely take another look at it.”
Air North operates regular flights between Kelowna, Vancouver, and Whitehorse, and Ratuski says he feels there is a demand for similar flights to and from Kamloops.
“It has been a successful route for them our of Kelowna and that is why the were looking prior to COVID, and so as we continue to come out of that, this is an opportunity to take a closer look at that route and add some more travel options for folks trying to get down to the coast on a more regular basis,” he added.
On the Victoria Day long weekend, Air North is offering a one-off round-trip flight from the Tournament Capital to the Yukon capital with fares starting at $370.
The flight will leave Kamloops on Friday, May 19, and make a stop in Vancouver before heading north. The return flight on Monday, May 22 will leave Whitehorse for Vancouver, then stop in Kamloops before heading back to Yukon.
“They just saw a potential opportunity to capitalize on that flight for the routes to Vancouver and Whitehorse,” Ratuski added.
“They’re opening up that section on a limited basis to residents to either get to Vancouver for the long weekend or even experience Whitehorse for the long weekend as well.”
Air North: Kamloops is “on the radar”
Benjamin Ryan, Air North’s Chief Commercial Officer tells NL News that regular flights to Kamloops are definitely on the radar.
“Most of the manner in which we fly is really connected to the Yukon and trying to make the Yukon an affordable and accessible place, but in recent years, we’re started servicing the Yukon a little differently,” he said.
“Currently, we fly daily between Kelowna and Vancouver and it always connects with the Yukon but increasingly we’ve been able to service people in Southern BC. We know that a percentage of our passengers that are using our Kelowna service are going to Kamloops so, its definitely on our radar.”
Ryan is optimistic about the success of the two limited edition flights over the May Long weekend, as there is quote “great potential” in the Kamloops market from both a tourism and an economic standpoint.
“We’re aware that Kamloops is a very attractive tourism destination and its an economic hub. Particularly as well, its an Indigenous tourism destination which is a big part of our business because we’re Indigenous owned,” he said. “I think what you’re seeing in the industry is there is a pecking order in terms of what routes airlines are going to prioritize.
“We believe there is great potential in terms of Kamloops, and I don’t anticipate we would do like a once a month service or something. If we really though Kamloops was a good route and it is something we are evaluating, it probably would make sense to do on a regular schedule.”
