Kamloops and area residents heading to Vancouver will have more flight options starting next week.

Kamloops Airport Managing Director, Ed Ratuski says Air Canada is bringing back its early morning flight to Vancouver, after it was pulled from the schedule this summer due to a lack of crew.

“They had to make some tough decisions this summer to make the best use of the pilot hours they had available,” Ratuski said.

The early Vancouver flight is expected to leave Kamloops Airport around 5:50 a.m. There will also be a late night flight coming into Kamloops with that flight expected to arrive from Vancouver around 10:12 p.m.

“We are quite excited about that service coming back because we know that it is an important route for business travellers to be able to get in and out of Vancouver the same day,” Ratuski added.

Ratuski also says WestJet Link will be bringing back two flights a day to Vancouver next week.

One flight is expected to leave Kamloops at 12:55 p.m., while the other flight is set to leave at 6:45 p.m. Inbound flights to Kamloops will arrive at 12:22 p.m. and 6:13 p.m. respectively.

“They suspended that operation for the summer but are returning with twice daily flights to Vancouver to connect into the WestJet network,” Ratuski said.

The return of these flights will make it six daily flights between Kamloops and Vancouver, which Ratuski says is “where we need to be” at YKA.

“It just gives a lot more options for travellers especially as we head into the holiday season and the winter sun destinations to connect into their networks,” he said.

“It’s an excellent option for travellers.”

There will also be three daily flights between Kamloops and Calgary, operated by WestJet,

Outbound flights leave Kamloops at 6 a.m., 11:10 a.m., and 5 p.m., while inbound flights to Kamloops are scheduled to arrive at  10:36 a.m., 4:27 p.m., and 11:56 p.m. respectively.

Pacific Coastal is also operating a direct flight between Kamloops and Victoria, with flights operating six days a week, Sunday to Friday.

The flight is scheduled to arrive in Kamloops around 4:40 p.m, and leave for Victoria at 5:05 p.m.