Image Credit: Central Mountain Air

By James Peters / Jill Sperling

Kamloops Airport

Central Mountain Air suspends Kamloops-to-Prince George service but unveils Kamloops-to-Vancouver route

Jan 19, 2021 | 2:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — Central Mountain Air has announced the suspension of three regional flights — but is offering a glimmer of hope to Kamloops jet-setters.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Jan. 19), the Smithers-based airline says it will suspend the Kamloops-to-Prince George, Fort Nelson-to-Prince George and Edmonton-to-High Level routes as of February 3. The Kamloops-to-Prince George route could return as early as April 5, while the other two routes are suspended until at least May 3.

CEO Bob Cummings says the “crushing economic impact” of pandemic restrictions led to the suspensions.

“Devastating declines in travel and extended provincial health advisories against non-essential travel have necessitated a significant scaling back of our scheduled operations for the foreseeable future,” said Cummings in the release.

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“The federal government has been promising for almost a year that help is on the way to support these essential air services, but no such support has been received or clearly outlined. Our customers and the communities we serve are bearing the brunt of this inaction,” he continued.

Kamloops Airport Managing Director Ed Ratuski confirms the airline has been hit hard by the drop in passenger traffic.”

“Their passenger loads have dropped almost to zero since these latest travel restrictions were (put) in place,” Ratuski told CFJC Today. “They are going to take a two-month suspension of their service and then revisit that service in April.”

“It’s not just bad news for the airport; it’s bad news for the community in general. Travellers right now aren’t travelling for leisure. These are workers that were travelling, or people who have an essential need to travel.”

At the same time, Central Mountain announced a new, twice-weekly flight between Kamloops and Vancouver.

The new route will start April 5.

The announcement comes one week after Air Canada announced it is suspending service to Kamloops as of January 23. Air Canada Express was previously the only direct air link between Kamloops and YVR.