Kamloops Airport. (Photo via Colton Davies)
The four airlines that serve Kamloops Airport are adding flights or using larger aircrafts to help get people to and from the Lower Mainland.
Tracy Brown, the Manager of Facilities and Emergency Response at YKA says there has been a lot of demand from people after the major highways were damaged by floods.
“We are also seeing passengers who are connecting with private operators and getting flights to various locations with our private operators on site as well. But yeah, the flights are definitely getting used,” she said. “Passenger volumes are really high, if not full, so all of the flights that have been added are being used.”
In a statement Wednesday, Nov. 17, Air Canada said it has added more seats to and from Kamloops and Kelowna to respond to the highway closures, and help move emergency medical supplies.
Pacific Coastal also said it has been adding additional flights to and from Kamloops, Kelowna, and Penticton, while Central Mountain Air has also added additional flights this Thursday, Nov. 18, and Friday, Nov. 19.
All of those three airlines connect Kamloops and Vancouver.
Meanwhile, WestJet – which has flights between Kamloops and Calgary – has added more flights to its B.C. schedule along with bringing larger aircraft to meet the added demand. It also says it has temporarily reduced walk-up and online prices by more than 50 per cent on impacted routes.
“There is a certain degree of coordination that needs to happen at the airport in terms of apron space and parking for the aircraft as well as being able to facilitate passenger movements through the terminal and the screening checkpoint,” Brown added.
“We were all working on it in the background and these it has all just been coming together over the last 24 hours with the coordination effort.”
Brown says passengers with questions or those looking to get onto any of these flights to and from Kamloops, should check directly with the airlines.
For the latest flight schedule at Kamloops Airport, go here.
