FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kamloops Airport Lands Nonstop to Toronto and Beyond
Air Canada to operate new service to Toronto beginning June 2018
 

Kamloops, B.C. (December 1, 2017): Air Canada Rouge today released its Spring 2018 schedule which includes new nonstop service to Toronto from Kamloops Airport. This new service connects Kamloops to three of Air Canada’s Canadian hubs: Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

“We are thrilled that Air Canada Rouge is launching new nonstop service to Toronto Pearson,” said Heather McCarley, Managing Director of Kamloops Airport. “This is an important connection for Kamloops. Thanks to Air Canada’s global network, it opens up our region to travellers coming from all corners of Canada and around the world with one ticket and one stop.”

Kamloops Airport generates $72.2 million in total economic output and supports more than 850 jobs in the community. The new service strengthens the airport’s contributions and provides opportunities for local residents, regional businesses and tourism partners to reach new markets.

“We are very pleased to announce new, non-stop flights from Kamloops directly to Toronto to help make summer travel to and from the Thompson Okanagan area even more convenient.  With more than 535 seats and up to nine daily flights next summer, Air Canada will be flying non-stop from Kamloops Airport to three of our Canadian hubs: Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, offering the most options and unparalleled choices for vacation travellers to get to Kamloops and the Thompson Okanagan area. Additionally, customers from this area will have direct access to even more far-reaching destinations in our global network at our primary Toronto hub,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.

The new service is a result of concentrated efforts to grow connectivity to the region, in partnership with Tourism Kamloops and Tourism Sun Peaks.

“We are extremely excited for this announcement and are encouraged by the foresight and collaboration with Air Canada to introduce new air routing into Kamloops,” said Beverley DeSantis, CEO, Tourism Kamloops. “Tourism is an important economic driver for Kamloops and the capacity to create new air access for new markets is paramount to growing our visitor economy.”

"This new nonstop flight from Toronto represents tremendous opportunity for growth from the Ontario market. Ontario currently represents the fourth largest market for summer tourism in Sun Peaks. With the ease of a nonstop flight, visitors can leave Toronto and be in Sun Peaks in time to enjoy an afternoon in the mountains taking part in one of our many summer activities,” said Arlene Schieven, President and CEO, Tourism Sun Peaks.

Air Canada Rouge’s Kamloops services will operate using Airbus A319 aircraft with 136 seats. The initial schedule is for three frequencies per week, per route, from June 2018 through October 2018, timed to connect conveniently with Air Canada's domestic and international schedule.

For more information regarding Air Canada Rouge’s new services or to make a reservation, visit www.AirCanada.com/media

###

About Kamloops Airport
Kamloops Airport served more than 322,000 passengers in 2016, offering commercial flights with Air Canada, Central Mountain Air and WestJet. Kamloops Airport is operated by Kamloops Airport Limited (KAL) under contract to the City of Kamloops. KAL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vantage Airport Group, an industry-leading investor, operator and developer of airports around the world, providing opportunity for Kamloops Airport to take part in and benefit from global airport best practices through Vantage’s worldwide network of 10 airports in five countries.

For more information, or to request an interview, contact:

Vantage Airport Group
Alyssa Smith
778 239 1473
media_relations@vantageairportgroup.com

Tourism Kamloops
Beverley DeSantis
CEO
250 517 9094
bev@tourismkamloops.com

Tourism Sun Peaks
Arlene Schieven
President & CEO
250 578 5381
arlene@sunpeakstourism.com