A deal has been signed that should dramatically increase the number of visitors from Canada’s largest market to the Okanagan Valley and that is very exciting news for Osoyoos and area businesses, says the director of operations for Destination Osoyoos.
It was announced last week that Air Canada Rouge will begin daily routes between Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and Kelowna International Airport starting next June.
The Rouge aircraft carries 40 per cent more passengers than the current aircraft flying between Kelowna and Toronto.
As part of the new agreement, the Thompson Okanagan Tourist Association (TOTA) will also be initiating a comprehensive marketing plan to promote the Okanagan Valley as a destination tourist attraction for the millions of people who live in the Greater Toronto Area and use Pearson International airport on a regular basis.
This is wonderful news and will no doubt increase not only the amount of visitors coming to Osoyoos – and the entire Okanagan Valley – but will also allow South Okanagan residents to have easier access to national and international travel opportunities, said Gail Scott, the director of operations for Destination Osoyoos.
“The announcement of YLW Rouge between YLW and Toronto Pearson International Airport is great news for the Okanagan Valley and all of its communities,” said Scott. “Our region is fast becoming a world-class tourism destination and it is these new air services that will connect us to those tourists that have us on their radar and to do lists.
Destination BC recently shared their primary North America target markets that included Toronto, Alberta and the WestCoast of USA.
Attracting the Canada East market as well as Alberta, Washington and California aligns well with Destination Osoyoos’ strategies to attract and grow visitation and trade over the next three years. The South Okanagan will ultimately benefit from this new air service as well as from other domestic routes that have been coming on board over the last few years.
Tourism is vital to B.C’s economy, generating $13.5 billion annually and employing more than 127,000 people. It is one of the key sectors in the BC Jobs Plan, she said.
Tourism attracts 3.5 million visitors to the Thompson Okanagan each year, generating more than $1.7 billion in economic activity and directly employs 5,000 people.
Management at Kelowna International Airport has been working on this deal with Air Canada for some time and is very excited the new Rouge flights will begin in just over six months.
“This is exciting news,” says YLW Airport Director Sam Samaddar. “Air Canada first began seasonal non-stop service to Toronto in 2002 at YLW. We are pleased to be one of the first new domestic routes for the Air Canada Rouge service. Air Canada Rouge provides more capacity, therefore more people travelling to the Okanagan, and more convenience for customers in the Okanagan with just one stop to virtually anywhere in Air Canada’s world through its global Toronto hub.”
“This is a major announcement for the Region as Air Canada Rouge brand is Air Canada’s new leisure airline”, noted Glenn Mandziuk CEO Thompson Okanagan Tourism. “As a result of this major news the region will now be marketed in the Toronto market by Air Canada in the same breath as leisure destinations Rouge flies to in Europe, Mexico, the U.S. and the Caribbean.”
“Timing is perfect!” says Tourism Kelowna CEO Nancy Cameron of the Rouge launch.
“We have been advertising in the Greater Toronto Area for several years now in order to entice Ontarians to Kelowna and the Okanagan. Having Air Canada Rouge provide this new daily service dramatically improves our accessibility to this important market just in time for our peak season.”
“The Okanagan Valley and our Toronto global hub are important markets, and the expansion of Air Canada Rouge on this key domestic route is an important element of our strategy for sustainable growth,” said Kevin C. Howlett, Senior Vice President, Regional Markets at Air Canada. “We look forward to welcoming more customers onboard, both local residents travelling to Toronto and connecting to virtually anywhere in the world, or bringing more worldwide customers to BC’s Okanagan Valley.”
With the launch of a daily ground transportation shuttle service between Osoyoos and Kelowna International Airport last year (Let’s Go transportation), increased service by BC Transit, the new daily filghts between Penticton and Calgary, the variety and frequency of transportation options for residents living in the South Okanagan has increased dramatically in a short period of time, said Scott.
Air Canada Rouge will operate flights using a 136-seat Airbus A319 aircraft offering both premium and economy cabins of service. Go to aircanada.com for flight booking information and to ylw.kelowna.ca for more airport information, flights and services.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
