Air Canada flights to Toronto and Calgary will resume in July. (submitted/Air Canada)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

to the skies

Suite of flights returning to Nanaimo Airport as restrictions ease

Jun 21, 2021 | 12:04 PM

NANAIMO — Air Canada flights from the Nanaimo Airport will return to the skies.

Air Canada announced the summer flight routes direct to Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary will resume in July. The Calgary routes return on July 1, with direct to Toronto flights coming back on July 4.

“With Canada’s ongoing vaccine roll-out acceleration together with various provincial governments’ reopening plans that include travel, this summer is looking brighter,” Mark Galardo with Air Canada said in a release.

“We are thrilled to resume our non-stop flights from Nanaimo to both Toronto and to Calgary, offering additional choices to and from Vancouver Island.”

The flights were curtailed when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. That summer was to see the longest flight season from Air Canada, with the Nanaimo to Toronto flights stretching into early October.

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One direct flight a week to Toronto is currently planned, but the release noted schedule expansion is possible.

Anthony Everett, CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island, said cross-country flights returning is a sign the hard-hit tourism industry will start bouncing back.

“Air access to Vancouver Island is a critical component for the long-term recovery of the tourism industry in our region. It is a positive sign to see a major carrier making this investment in the Mid-Island as the restart of travel begins.”

The Nanaimo Airport received over $700,000 earlier in 2021 to offset losses incurred by the pandemic.

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