WestJet is launching a new direct flight from Kamloops to Edmonton starting on June 24, one of 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada.

Kamloops Airport Managing Director Ed Ratuski tells NL News the twice-weekly flight will operate in the late afternoon on Thursdays and Sundays.

“Its a really good sign for us. That was one of the first routes entering the market,” he said. “This launch is still a ways off, so I think that’s where the expectation is is that the travelling public will have more confidence. More vaccines will be in place and perhaps some of the travelling restrictions will be lifted.”

Ratuski says it is especially welcome news for people who work in Northern Alberta as well as for tourists.

“We keep in close contact with all the airlines serving Kamloops. We knew the market was there, but its really up to them to make that decision to make the route profitable,” he added. “The discussions are always ongoing even during a pandemic just to make sure that the airlines know how important is to the economy locally.”

Back in December 2019, Swoop, WestJet’s ultra low-cost carrier, announced plans for a direct Kamloops to Edmonton flight set to begin in April 2020 before cancelling those plans due to COVID-19.

Some of the other new WestJet flights announced today are between Edmonton and Penticton, Kelowna and Regina, Kelowna and Saskatoon, and Prince George and Abbotsford.

“As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada’s economic recovery,” WestJet CEO Ed Sims said. “Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country.”

“If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer.”