NANAIMO – Nanaimo Airport embarks on a new era this month when a direct flight to Toronto begins operation.
Air Canada Rouge launches service to Toronto on June 22.
“This very significant new route will help the Central Island capitalize on its growth potential.” says Nanaimo Airport Commission Chair Lucie Gosselin. “It’s another example of how Nanaimo Airport helps drive the regional economy.”
Four flights per week will operate, on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through October 8. The plane will arrive in late morning and depart in early afternoon.
Travellers will fly on a 136-seat Airbus A319. “This is a terrific milestone for us,” says airport CEO Mike Hooper. “We’ve hosted jet aircraft as charters on site in the past but this is the first scheduled jet service since we lengthened the runway in 2010.”
The non-stop service has long been sought by Central Vancouver business and leisure travellers, says Hooper.
Travellers can conveniently and affordably connect to destinations around the globe, including popular destinations such as Europe and the Caribbean.
Business owners, investors and workers can find new markets and customers, and jobs can be pursued from a base in the Central Island. New flights also create advantages for the region’s tourism industry and for the educational sector, which seeks to attract students from overseas.
The Toronto flight is just one of the additions to the summer schedule at Nanaimo Airport. Air Canada and WestJet have also announced extra flights to hubs in Vancouver and Calgary.