Kamloopsians looking to get to or from Edmonton without a stopover in Calgary or Vancouver will be able to do starting June 15 when Flair Airlines launches direct flights from Kamloops to the Alberta capital.

YKA Managing Director Ed Ratuski tells NL News they’ve been working with Flair Airlines to bring in this route for quite a while.

“It has been un-served since about 2016, that was the last time West Jet was serving the route,” he said. “The numbers are starting to come back post COVID and we’re quite confident the route can support the non stop service so we’re quite happy that Flair has stepped up to give that extra travel option to the people of Kamloops.”

Ratuski is confident there will be a lot of interest in these flights, which will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

“One thing we’ve been hearing ever since COVID hit was that it was quite a challenge for resource workers to get in and out of Alberta efficiently, but the other market is the friends and family market,” he added. “That has proven actually to be quite successful for this route that flies out of Kelowna.”

“It is year-round service and we’ll start working with our partners at Tourism Kamloops and Tourism Sun Peaks to make sure that travellers from abroad and outside the region are well aware of it and we’ll make sure its successful.”

Flair Airlines is currently taking bookings for direct one-way and round trip flights with round-trip fares starting at $78 for passengers travelling with just a personal item and $185 for passengers adding a checked bag and carry-on bag at the time of booking using what what Flair calls a ‘basic bundle’.

“Whether it’s visiting friends and family for a long weekend or to travel for work or tourism, we are excited to take this first step in the Kamloops market and to bring more service to residents of both cities,” Stephen Jones, the president and CEO of Flair Airlines said, in a statement.

The flights are expected to last an hour and 15 minutes, leaving Edmonton at 11 a.m. Mountain time, reaching Kamloops at 11:15 a.m. Pacific Time. It will then turn around and leave Kamloops at noon for a 2:15 p.m. arrival in Edmonton.