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By Victor Kaisar

YKA to YXS Flight

Efforts to bring direct flight between Kamloops and Prince George still ongoing

Apr 13, 2025 | 12:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — Officials at Kamloops Airport (YKA) and Prince George Airport (YXS) are still working on trying to restore direct air services between the two cities.

YKA’s former Managing Director, Ed Ratuski – who will be starting a new job in Hamilton on Monday – said while Toronto and Edmonton remain priority routes for new flights, there continues to be demand for a direct flight to BC’s Northern Capital.

“We’ve talked to a number of regional carriers about that market,” Ratuski told CFJC Today. “We do hear from visiting friends and relatives as well the business community that needs to get up to Prince George as well.”

In a statement, Chrissy Blok, the Manager of Marketing and Air Service Development at Prince George Airport said that Kamloops is “always included” in proposals for air service that are made to both Pacific Coastal Airlines and Central Mountain Air.

“We believe that a route connecting YKA and YXS would not only fill a gap in regional air service but also provide seamless travel options for business and leisure passengers, supporting the economic needs of the Central Interior of B.C.,” Blok said.

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Both Central Mountain Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines operate direct flights between Prince George and Kelowna. Pacific Coastal also operates a flight between Kamloops and Victoria.

Ratuski also said that Kamloops to Prince George was a sustainable route for Central Mountain Air when it flew between the two cities for about 15 years before that flight was discontinued due to COVID-19.

“It hasn’t come back post-COVID but there is a demand there, so we’re trying to get that back as well,” he said.

Ratuski said the lack of a direct flight means Kamloopsians heading to Prince George have to either take a connecting flight, make the roughly five-and-a-half hour drive themselves, or take a roughly six-and-a-half hour long bus ride.

“Right now really the only option by flight is either via Vancouver or Calgary, which isn’t convenient,” Ratuski said. “We would like to see one of the regional carriers pick up that route to Prince George once again.”