A Flair Airlines Boeing 737 in Kamloops. (Photo via Kamloops Airport)

The President of the Kamloops Airport Authority Society says he’s hoping people in the area support Flair Airlines’ new twice-weekly direct flight to Edmonton.

Bill Sarai says he is happy that the Edmonton-based airline stepped up to reestablish a direct link from Kamloops to the Alberta capital for the first time since 2016.

“From $29 to $89 one way, you can’t help but not support this airline,” Sarai told Radio NL. “Its cheaper to get on a flight and take your kids to West Edmonton Mall than it is to drive to Metrotown in Burnaby, and to me that’s a no brainer. Seniors can also go visit their grand kids in Edmonton.”

Sarai says if these Flair flights – which began on June 18 – are successful, it could mean future growth at Kamloops Airport.

“We need to show not only this airline but others that we are capable of putting bums in seats that will attract other airlines here as well,” Sarai added.

“What we do with this airline, the other airlines are going to look at it and say, ‘hey, Kamloops is stepping up and they’re capable of filling some planes up, let’s look at other destinations.’ And that is what I’m trying to promote.”

Edmonton is one of three key destinations being targeted for direct air service to Kamloops, with Victoria and Toronto the other two.

“We need those direct flights to Toronto, to Victoria, to Seattle. We get all that but other airlines are also watching so don’t look at it, ‘oh, it’s just an Edmonton flight. We don’t have to worry about it,” Sarai said.

“Flair is here, lets support them but also lets show the other airlines that we are capable of sustaining another airline.”