History was made today, as the first flight from Comox to Kelowna officially flew this morning.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Comox Valley Airport to celebrate the new route, one that will allow residents to fly from Comox to Kelowna and vice-versa for six days of the week.
Related: New flight route between Comox and Kelowna coming this summer – My Comox Valley Now
CEO of the airport Mike Atkins says it is a great day.
“Our passengers have told us for years that this was a desired route, that Kelowna was one of their top destinations for direct service,” said Atkins.
“We’re very happy that Pacific Coastal has started this route today, and we look forward to its success in the future.”
He says they have discussed with Pacific Coastal Airlines about the validity of this route for years, with Pacific Coastal’s senior manager of airports Claire Stewart saying once they made the commitment to the route, it only took a few months to put it together.
“As of right now, it’s introduced as a year-round service so it’s not temporary, and not seasonal,” said Stewart.
Stewart, Atkins, and Chair of the Comox Valley Airport Commission Bill Anglin say after they first announced the route, they received a positive reaction from community members, with expectations of it becoming a popular one for travelers.
The first flight leaving Comox boarded 16 passengers.
