From Cranbrook to Kelowna, travel just got easier with daily flights

From skiing in the Kootenays to drinking wine in the Okanagan, travelling back and forth will be a breeze thanks to the return of a flight service between Cranbrook and Kelowna.

The inaugural Pacific Coastal flight took off on Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. from Cranbrook (YXC) and landed in Kelowna (YLW) at 8:55 a.m.

This Pacific Coastal flight set the course for seven daily departures between the two airports.

YLW Chief Executive Officer Sam Samaddar said he was excited to see, “Pacific Coastal’s network continue to expand at YLW, strengthening Kelowna’s role as a transportation hub for travellers and goods in our province.”

This flight marks the return of Pacific Coastal to Cranbrook, said Tristen Chernove, CEO of Elevate Airports.

“The return of this improved version of the OK (Okanagan – Kootenay) Connector is scheduled for optimized connectivity to not only Kelowna but through to/from Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox, bridging three of B.C.’s six tourism regions, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Kootenay in a compelling new way,” Chernove said.

In 2020, Pacific Coastal suspended its flight service between Vancouver International Airport and Cranbrook, due to a pilot shortage and the pandemic beginning soon after.

Market conditions allowed for the route to return in July 2020 up until April 2023, when Pacific Coastal again suspended the flight service into Cranbrook, due to challenges with shortages of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers.

This new Pacific Coastal flight service between Cranbrook and Kelowna marks the company’s “investment into growing and expanding its services across B.C.,” said Berkan Kucukkatipoglu, Director of Commercial Planning. “Kelowna has become a very important city for us and is now a key regional hub.”

Other Pacific Coastal flight services include:

• Victoria (YYJ): 14 flights per week (double daily);
• Nanaimo (YCD): 13 flights per week (double daily Sunday to Friday, daily Saturday);
• Comox (YQQ): Six flights per week (double daily to Sunday to Friday, daily Saturday);
• Prince George (YXS): Six flights per week (daily Sunday to Friday, no service Saturday);
• Cranbrook (YXC): Seven flights per week (daily)

With the introduction of this Kelowna – Cranbrook route, Pacific Coastal Airlines will now serve 20 destinations across the province.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!