Harbour Air is getting ready to add more flights and resume service to the South Terminal at YVR in Richmond.
The announcement came through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, which said in a May 27 release in recognition of Tourism Week, May 24 to 30, that it will be “highlighting the many individuals and organizations that work in the tourism industry who have shifted their businesses to adapt to the new public health orders and advice as a result of COVID-19.”
Harbour Air executive vice-president Chad Wetsch said, “We have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on the communities we service. We didn’t want to leave anyone stranded, so we responded quickly, changing how we operate to get people and supplies where they needed to go.”
Harbour Air has already been running a reduced schedule on some routes, including Sechelt-Nanaimo and Sechelt-Vancouver Harbour. Both will have more flights added in June.
Harbour Air has also taken measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19, such as reducing the available seating on its planes, providing passengers with gloves and masks, stricter cleaning protocols and health screening for passengers and crew.
Flights to the YVR South Terminal in Richmond from Nanaimo and Victoria will resume on June 1, but flights between Sechelt and YVR aren’t scheduled to begin again until late August.
The other float plane company serving the Coast, Sunshine Coast Air, also resumed flights between Sechelt and Nanaimo on a limited schedule earlier this month as well as continuing to offer charter and sightseeing flights.
Company officials said they will be offering four flights daily on the Nanaimo route starting June 1.
