Recent History – 2000
Cross-posted: BN03-15: Executive Air Service Coming
Oct. 31, 2000
By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff
A Boundary Bay-based airline will be flying a 10-seat executive-style jet between Dawson Creek and the south terminal at Vancouver International Airport on a daily basis.
Dawson Creek Municipal Airport manager Ian Darling confirmed Monday that Montair of Delta, B.C. will be providing the service, start dates, schedules and prices still to be determined.
Montair was one of three airlines Darling was talking to, armed with a survey of local business-people that expressed overwhelming support for such a service.
The news left Darling “elated” while Mayor Blair Lekstrom and Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce president Gus McLeod also welcomed the development.
Lekstrom said the airport is an important part of attracting business to the Mile Zero City. “I know that when we’re dealing with these corporations, that’s one of the questions they raise,” he said.
McLeod said the service is a “great opportunity.”
“I think that’s a real positive move for us and I really think that we will be able to attract flyers from other communities,” he said.
Montair officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
Darling has been trying to sell an airline on the possibility that local business-people would support a service that flies out of Dawson Creek early in the morning and returns to the Mile Zero City later that evening.
A 7 a.m. departure combined with the direct flight, would mean that business-people would arrive in Vancouver at 8:50 a.m. And by arriving at the south terminal, they can get out of the airport much faster than going through the main terminal.
“They’re getting their bags, getting a cab, or renting a car, and they’re driving the Arthur Lang bridge before people are even getting out of the international airport,” Darling said.
“Now they’re in Vancouver at 9:15, 9:30, and they’ve got a whole day there to do their meetings, have more meetings, maybe do more business, maybe do some shopping, and then getting back on the plane and back to the south terminal at maybe 7 o’clock at night, being back here at nine.”
Currently, Central Mountain Air provides three flights out of Dawson Creek per day, with a stop-over in Prince George. But the earliest flight leaves at 9 a.m. Darling points to Air Canada, which owns Central Mountain Air, as the reason for the lack of service.