Diverging from its namesake, Harbour Air is ditching its floats for wheels for its first-ever wheeled route between Victoria and Vancouver, in addition to its current seaplane services. Starting Nov. 4, 2024, Harbour Air will be offering three flights a day between Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Harbour Air, which bills itself as “North America’s largest seaplane airline,” says it’s the first time ever its adding wheeled flights between YYJ and YVR. To service the route Harbour Air is converting two Canadian-built 19-seater Twin Otters to have wheels and de-icing equipment. This will allow the planes to travel outside of daylight hours, which is also a first for the company.
“We know how much our customers value our product; however, being limited to flying during daylight-only hours has prevented us from operating at key times desired during winter,” said Chris Fordyce, vice president of commercial for Harbour Air Group. “The ability to fly in darkness and operate at airports on wheels is a game changer for us and will provide increased convenience for passengers travelling along these routes.”
The flights will leave at the following times starting on Nov. 4, Monday through Friday:
- From YVR Airport (South Terminal): 7:15 a.m., 4 p.m.*, 6:25 p.m.
- From YYJ Victoria International Airport: 8:30 a.m., 5:15 p.m.*, 7:45 p.m.
- *Dec. 2, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025 only
The Victoria Airport Authority also says it’s looking forward to the new route.
“YYJ welcomes the new service between YVR’s South Terminal and Victoria,” said Victoria Airport Authority president and CEO Elizabeth Brown. “The team at Harbour Air have developed a great schedule which provides an additional travel option for Vancouver Islanders needing to get to the mainland,” she said.
Earlier this summer, Harbour Air suspended its new “Flights ‘n’ Flowers Tour” which was a round-trip route between Vancouver and Butchart Gardens. The route launched in mid-June and about one month later it was suspended, alongside Harbour Air’s Vancouver to North Saanich route.
(Source: CHEK News, Adam Chan. Photo/Nicholas Pescod)
