It came as a shock, and has certainly irked many.
Air Canada confirmed today that it would be ending service at Penticton Regional Airport (YYF), effective Jan. 15, 2024.
“We regret having to make this difficult decision as we are deeply aware of the impact in the local Penticton community,” Air Canada told NowMedia in an emailed statement.
“However, with the current regional pilot shortage, we have had to review the network schedule to ensure resources are deployed most efficiently and productively.”
The news was first broken on social media by South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings, who called it “a bad decision on so many levels.”
“It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy when you reduce service,” he explained. “Force more people to fly out of Kelowna, reduce service, repeat…”
Sure enough, Air Canada referred to Kelowna International Airport (YLW) as the alternative option in their written statement to NowMedia.
“While we recognize it is not as close to all communities, the overall region will continue to be served at the Kelowna airport which has a catchment area that compares to many other regional markets we serve,” it said.
Cannings wasn’t the only one disappointed, as other local politicians have spoken up today, including Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield.
“We know there is a demand for service from Penticton to Vancouver, as anyone who has caught the morning flight will tell you,” he said in a statement provided by the City.
“So we will work with Travel Penticton, the Chamber of Commerce and other airlines to ensure our community remains well served and that YYF continues to connect the South Okanagan to the rest of the world.”
Bloomfield says the City and YYF have already reached out to airlines about opportunities and hope to meet with them in Vancouver next week at the Union of BC Municipalities.
“We are excited for the opportunity to forge new partnerships that support the entire region,” he noted. “The future is full of blue skies, the airport will remain a key player in keeping our region connected.”
Both MP Dan Albas and MLA Dan Ashton also expressed their disappointment in the decision, with Albas saying he was not expecting Air Canada to “abandon the good people of the South Okanagan region.”
Albas cited local farmers who depend on Penticton airport access for their workers, as well as the negative impacts on the tourism, manufacturing, travel and professional sectors.
