Travel to and from Vancouver gets a whole lot easier for Ucluelet and Tofino residents with the launch of Pacific Coastal Airlines’ new, daily non-stop service on April 3.
“We’re excited to add the west coast of Vancouver Island to our extensive network of destinations in British Columbia,” says Kevin Boothroyd, Pacific Coastal’s Director of Business Development and Corporate Communications.
The BC owned and operated airline, which has its origins in the coastal town of Bella Coola, believes it is well positioned to provide the enhanced level of service and customer experience that local residents have always wanted.
“We believe that this is a great fit for our airline,” says Boothroyd. “We’ve worked hard over many years to build brand loyalty by providing exceptional customer service, developing strong partnerships and supporting local communities,” he adds.
The launch of Pacific Coastal’s new service comes at a good time with record increases in tourist visitors over the past few years – a trend that is expected to continue – and with the recent announcement of the Pacific Rim Highway improvement program that will have a significant impact on vehicle travel over the next few years.
Scheduled Service
Pacific Coastal will operate one flight a day, seven days a week from April 3 until June 3, and will add a second daily flight on Fridays and Sundays during the peak summer season from June 4 until Sept. 3, 2018.
Connections
This new services offers convenient connections to other Pacific Coastal destinations such as Powell River (YPW), Victoria (YYJ), Port Hardy (YZT), Cranbrook (YXC), Comox (YQQ), and Campbell River (YBL).
Larger aircraft
Pacific Coastal will rely on its comfortable turbo prop 19 seat aircraft and has the capability of upgrading to the more spacious 30 seat or 34 seat Saab aircraft to meet demand.
Cargo, Carry-On, Checked bags
Larger aircraft means more cargo space. Pacific Coastal flights can accommodate more checked baggage as well as offering up to 2 carry-on items, up to a total weight of 44 pounds.
Shuttle Service
Pacific Coastal has partnered with Pacific Rim Navigators to provide shuttle service from the airport to the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet.
Pacific Coastal Airlines
A privately owned, British Columbia-based regional airline operating from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR), Pacific Coastal is now the sixth-largest airline operating at YVR, based on outbound seats, and third largest in takeoffs and landings. It flies to 16 airports and with its affiliate airline Wilderness Seaplanes located in Port Hardy on north Vancouver Island, connects to more than 50 additional destinations in the province from as far east as Cranbrook in the Rocky Mountains, as far north as Prince George, or Masset on the legendary island of Haida Gwaii and now as far west as Tofino. Its network encompasses major ski destinations, a multitude of fishing lodges, outdoor and wildlife adventure tours, and authentic First Nations experiences.
