File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Michael Reeve

BCAC CONFERENCE 2025

B.C. Aviation Conference an opportunity to pitch Kamloops Airport expansion plans to provincial stakeholders

Jun 3, 2025 | 4:32 PM

KAMLOOPS — This week, the B.C. Aviation Council is hosting its annual conference in Kamloops, entitled ‘Innovation — Eyes on the Horizon’. The 2025 conference features speakers from all areas of aviation, from medical transport to human resources and drones. It comes as Kamloops city council has been eyeing improvements at Kamloops Airport, last year approving massive zoning changes for more than 250 hectares around the site in an effort to spur investment.

YKA has been successful in the past year, securing direct flights to both Victoria and Edmonton. But adding additional routes is just one aspect of an ambitious plan for Kamloops Airport.

“We are very unique we have airside runway leased land. We have a rail line spur line as well. But at the end of the day, this is what we have to do to have economic spinoff for the city, for the residents. Businesses that maybe aren’t here yet or want to upsize or relocate and that is what we are doing out there,” said Bill Sarai, president of the Kamloops Airport Society.

The city rezoned 276 hectares off land in the hopes of bringing future investment to Kamloops with the likes of hotels, gas bars and other airport-related businesses.

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“Fire and Flood is already out there, Emergency Health Services is putting up their building right now as we speak. The roads, water, sewer infrastructure are all in for that first phase and we have some really good interest going on for sites. I can’t go into too much right now, but I think in the next three-to-five years, the entrance to the airport is going to be drastically improved and people are going to be very proud of driving in and out of the airport.”

This week’s annual British Columbia Aviation Council conference provided Sarai and other local stakeholders a chance to rub elbows and pitch Kamloops to hundreds of delegates.

“YVR and all the smaller airports are trying to pull that rope in the same direction of getting more flights, more cargo, and more government support to keep these regional airports open,” said Sarai.

On top of further investment, city council is also looking to secure a bus route to YKA for passengers and staff.