The head of the Kamloops Airport Society contends it’s been a successful first few weeks for Pacific Coastal Airlines’ direct flight between Kamloops and Victoria.

Bill Sarai says reaction to the new flight – which began operations on Oct. 17 – has been positive.

“What I’ve heard from the residents and the user groups so far from the airport is that its been very well received,” Sarai told Radio NL.

Pacific Coastal flies between Kamloops and Victoria six times a week – from Sunday to Friday – using a 19-seater Beechcraft 1900 aircraft.

Flights were initially supposed to run until April, but the airline announced in October it was extending operations because of “strong demand” and “positive feedback” since it announced the flights in June.

“They announced that they’re year round instead of until April. They’re here to stay, and we’re holding them to it,” Sarai added. “If there is any issue or hiccups that the society or Vantage or the City can help with, we’re at the table more than ever.”

Sarai says Kamloops Airport wants to avoid a similar disappointment like what happened with Flair Airlines flight to Edmonton earlier this year.

Flair grounded its flight in early September, less than three months after it began operations, citing a lack of demand between Kamloops and Edmonton when compared to other routes it operates.

“We didn’t promote it, myself included, and so a lot of people didn’t even know that we had flights going,” Sarai said of the Flair flight. “Pacific Coastal is doing their part [and] now its up to us to promote it and make sure that everybody is aware that this is an option.”