Vancouver Island residents will find travel to the United States that much easier beginning March 3, now that Nanaimo Airport has begun offering a flight service to Seattle.
Kenmore Air, which specializes in operating seaplanes, will now also be flying ground planes to Seattle's Boeing Field and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport twice daily.
President and CEO of the Nanaimo Airport Commission, Mike Hooper, said that the new non-stop service will expand the airline's gateway and better service the region.
"In under an hour passengers will be in Seattle for their day of business or ready to connect to SEA-TAC to continue their travels."
With Victoria International Airport more than 100km away, the new Seattle service makes Nanaimo Airport the closest option for mid-island residents to fly to the U.S.
The airline will also be offering shuttle service between downtown Seattle's Boeing Field and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
One-way flights to Seattle from Nanaimo will cost just over $70 per person for a limited time, on a select number of seats for some flights. Everyday fares will start at $182 including taxes and surcharges.
Airfare rates in Canada are typically much higher than those offered by U.S. airlines, and Kenmore Air hopes that the short, cheap trip to Seattle will be valuable to long-distance travelers.
"With this new service, people will be able to take advantage of the discounts and connect through SEA-TAC with other air carriers to great destinations such as Palm Springs, Las Vegas and Hawaii," said Todd Banks, president and general manager of Kenmore Air.
Due to policies that prevent foreign-owned airlines from offering domestic flights within its borders, Canada's air travel market does not promote competition in the same way America and Europe's large domestic market does. Because of this, taking a trip on a Canadian airline can sometimes cost double what a trip of the same distance would be with an American airline.
