Penticton Airport has been dealt another blow with Westjet not returning its flights to Edmonton this summer.
On Feb. 5, Westjet released its summer schedule, without a flight for Penticton to Edmonton.
A Penticton-Edmonton route was brought back by Westjet in 2021 and 2023 but the flights have been left off their 2024 schedule.
Westjet will continue its daily Penticton-Calgary route.
“The decision to suspend service is extremely difficult and never taken lightly. We understand this is disappointing news for our guests and the community and we sincerely apologize for any impact this may have,” said Westjet in an email to the Western News.
Air Canada pulled out of Penticton Airport on Jan. 15 citing pilot shortages as the main reason for stopping their daily flights to Vancouver and Penticton.
With Air Canada officially gone from Penticton’s airport, Pacific Coastal Airline has stepped up, adding daily flights including new Saturday flights in an attempt to fill the void.
Pacific Coastal Airlines announced it is expanding service between Vancouver and Penticton starting Feb. 10, with two more flights added every Saturday morning.
The B.C.-based airline will depart from Vancouver’s South Terminal at 9:15 a.m. and arrive at Penticton at 10:13 a.m. Its second flight will leave Penticton at 10:40 a.m. and land on the Lower Mainland at 11:40 a.m.
READ MORE: Pacific Coastal adds Saturday flights out of Penticton