Pacific Coastal Airlines: 18 Destinations on the British Columbia Coast

History and positioning

Operating since 1987 and based at the South Terminal of Vancouver airport, Pacific Coastal Airlines serves 18 destinations entirely within British Columbia. Many of the communities served have no direct road link with Vancouver or require ferries and hours of driving, which makes the airline the fastest way, and often the only regular one by air, to reach the central and northern coast of the province.

The fleet

The fleet consists of Saab 340s and Beechcraft 1900Ds, aircraft of limited capacity but suited to the short runways of the coastal communities served; in the past the airline also operated Convair aircraft dedicated exclusively to cargo, a segment that remains an important part of its business model alongside passengers.

Routes and network

The connections reach centers such as Bella Bella, Powell River and Anahim Lake, with a codeshare agreement with Air Canada that is useful for anyone who needs to continue on a domestic or international route after arriving in Vancouver.

What passengers say

The airline has operated for several decades with a stable network, something that counts in its favor in residents' assessments.

• A network that has been stable for several decades, with a reputation for reliability superior to many small regional carriers.
• Codeshare with Air Canada, useful for anyone who needs to continue on a domestic route.
• Well-established cargo service, useful for coastal communities that depend on air transport for goods.

• Reduced capacity on the Saab 340s, with seats that sell out quickly during the peak summer tourist season.
• Cancellations due to fog and coastal bad weather, frequent in some seasons.

Pacific Coastal is the most practical solution for anyone who needs to reach the coastal communities of British Columbia without facing ferries and back roads, and the codeshare with Air Canada makes it convenient for those arriving from outside the province too. Anyone traveling in summer to the most touristy destinations on the coast should book in advance, because the capacity of the Saab 340s fills up quickly on peak weekends.