Airport gets back Calgary connection (Penticton)

By John MoorhouseThursday, July 19, 2007 http://www.pentictonherald.ca/stories.php?id=54912

Penticton will soon regain its air link with Calgary, plus additional flights to Vancouver. Pacific Coastal Airlines announced Wednesday it will introduce non-stop service between Penticton and Calgary starting Sept. 10, plus three daily flights to Vancouver. Both routes will use Pacific Coastal‘s 19-passenger, twin-engine turbo-prop Beechcraft 1900C aircraft. Wayne Tebbutt, Penticton‘s economic development officer, welcomed the announcement. “Since last year‘s failed attempt by QuikAir to provide Calgary service, we have been searching for a substantial company to provide this link,” said Tebbutt. “Pacific Coastal Airlines is well respected in the industry, currently operating 24 aircraft with over 300 employees.” Tebbutt said the Pacific Coastal flights will be a boost to Penticton Regional Airport, adding that support from the local business and tourism community, along with Transport Canada, helped the search for additional air service. Vancouver-based Pacific Coastal describes itself as a family-run, community-oriented company, founded by CEO and director Daryl Smith in 1975. It flies extensively to Vancouver Island and B.C. coastal communities, along with Trail, Cranbrook, Williams Lake, Anahim Lake and Calgary. Penticton is currently served by Air Canada Jazz with three daily Dash-8 flights to Vancouver on weekdays and two daily flights on Saturdays and Sundays.