File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters / Dylana Kneeshaw

Fulton Field

After direct Toronto route scrubbed, still plenty of options for Kamloopsians heading east

Jan 23, 2020 | 11:23 AM

KAMLOOPS — The managing director of Kamloops Airport doesn’t believe Air Canada Rouge’s decision to cancel its direct Kamloops-to-Toronto route this summer will result in a significant decline in passenger totals.

The airline announced its schedule for the upcoming season this week. Manager Ed Ratuski says the Kamloops-to-Toronto flight was scrubbed so Air Canada Rouge can shift aircraft around to account for the grounding of the Boeing Max 8.

“They approached us earlier this week and indicated that because of the challenges they’re facing with the Max 8 issue, and basically being short 24 aircraft in their fleet, that they wouldn’t be serving the Toronto non-stop out of Kamloops this summer. Because that aircraft they required to backfill other routes where they would have had the Max 8 on that route,” said Ratuski.

Even without the direct flight, Ratuski says there are still options for Kamloops residents heading east, and vice versa.

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“The Rouge service was definitely targeted at friends and family travel throughout the summer from the east, so we don’t expect it’ll have much of an impact,” said Ratuski.

“Guests who have booked on that flight already for this summer will be accommodated by Air Canada — they’ve committed to either re-book, or offer a full refund for those flights. But Air Canada is increasing their Q400 service to Calgary to improve the connections to mid-continent, and out east.”

Westjet also connects to points east through Calgary.

Meantime, Fulton Field is in the midst of preparations for a new airline coming in this year. Discount carrier Swoop will offer direct flights to and from Edmonton.

Ratuski says those flights won’t necessarily address the loss of Rouge’s direct service to Toronto.

“It’s probably a different market out of Edmonton, but the Swoop service that we’ll be having this summer will definitely serve friends and family coming out of Alberta, not necessarily all the way from the east.”

The air travel industry will eventually come up with a more permanent solution to problems with the Boeing Max 8 aircraft, and Ratuski says that may result in the Rouge direct service to Toronto making a return.

“That all depends on the regulator and the fleet, and if the market supports it,” said Ratuski. “We’ll obviously stay in constant contact with all our airline partners who serve that route and if it looks like it could be a sustainable market for them, we’ll definitely promote the service with them,” said Ratuski.