Revelstoke to trial flights in the 2016/17 winter

As reported in the free July Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine — available at 100 locations around town. Pick yours up today.

City of Revestoke staff are partnering with key organizations to trial a much-needed airline service to Revelstoke in the winter.

Revelstoke Airport, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and the Revelstoke Accommodation Association are on board with airline Pacific Coastal, to charter 32 flights between Vancouver and Revelstoke from January to March 2017.

These will be on Thursdays and Sundays, beginning the last week in January to the third week in March. A total of 32 flights (16 return trips) will allow vacationers multiple options for their stay.

Trying to make it to Revelstoke in the winter has long been one of the best and worst features of our location. Running the risk of closures on Highway 1 can deter tourists from booking a winter holiday here, but for local powder hounds, it means keeping crowds away from the resort.

Securing a flight service to Revelstoke has been a long-term goal of Revelstoke’s director of community economic development Alan Mason.

“I think having an air service into Revelstoke makes the community more accessible, which will be of great benefit to our tourism and business sectors,” he said.

With a charter flight service available to the everyday skiier, Revelstoke Mountain Resort will become more accessible in the winter 2016/17. Photo: Ian Houghton/Revelstoke Mountain Resort

The details of this project are still being hashed out, but the total cost is estimated at about $111,000, including plane rentals, marketing, ground transportation and contingency in case planes are unable to land in Revelstoke (fog is often an issue here in the winter).

The project costs will be offset with fare revenues. A seat on one of these flights could cost $250.

The Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board has allocated $37,500 from the Economic Opportunity Fund for the test program. RMR and the RAA have also confirmed they will contribute funds, which is expected to be about $25,000 each. However, this may be reduced if flights are successfully booked out.

RMR’s marketing manager Nico Leenders believes resort guests will be impressed with the new service.

“We are really excited about this new partnership that is going to greatly benefit our travelling winter clientele,” he said.

Tourism service Everything Revelstoke is expected to run and market the flights.

Revelstoke airport was extended in 2014 and while chartered services are allowed, a regular service is not. If that was to happen Transport Canada will need to be involved and the airport will have to undergo extensive upgrades to be compliant. 

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