Northern BC’s capital is going to be more connected to the province’s capital.
The Prince George airport will be offering non-stop flights to Victoria, starting January 12th, through Pacific Coastal Airlines.
Spencer Smith is Vice President of Commercial Services for the airline and says Pacific Coastal is looking to expand its network in the north.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve, develop, enhance travel connectivity throughout the province,” he says. “But we don’t really have any interest in climbing on top of other existing services.”
President and CEO of the Prince George Airport Authority, John Gibson says flights will depart Victoria at 5:00 p.m., arriving into Prince George at 6:40 p.m.. The aircraft will then depart YXS at 7:05 p.m., arriving back in Victoria at 8:45 p.m..
As the #6 airline out of Richmond’s YVR, Smith says Pacific Coastal is a big player in BC and the
flights will open up numerous travelling opportunities, from government, personal, and workers on industrial projects.
“There’s a large contingency of people who travel from the south to get up here to get to the areas where the projects are, we’re hoping to provide more of a gateway for that to happen,” he says.
Smith is aware that a direct flight to Victoria is nothing new for Prince George, “But certainly the climate is different now,” he says.
Flights on the 30-seat plane will take around 80 minutes, with a cost starting at $150 each way.