Photo: Contributed - Flickr

Pacific Coastal Airlines has announced it will be discontinue Kelowna-Trail service May 15 – just four months after it was launched.

The airline announced the Okanagan-Kootenay connection on Jan. 12, with six scheduled flights a week, but passenger numbers did not meet expectations.

Meanwhile, the City of Trail is expressing disappointment. 

“We were hopeful this route would be well-used by leisure, business and medical travelers in the region. However, the numbers show us this is not the case,” said Mayor Mike Martin.   

“We ... worked closely with the regional economic development office, Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation and Kelowna International Airport on a multilevel marketing strategy," he said in a press release.

Martin said the city remains hopeful for Kelowna service out of Trail Regional Airport and has plans to gather traveller needs and wants through the LCIC.

“Our goal is to put together the necessary statistically valid marketing data that will consider if the Kelowna or other routes can be supported out of TRA at this time," he said. 

“Council is committed to improving transportation links in the West Kootenay and will do everything possible to provide service to this market where there is a demonstrated demand. If convenient, air access to the Okanagan or other locations can be demonstrated as part of a solid business case analysis; we will then look to pursue a service provider. A detailed marketing study will include important information like route demands, preferred travel time, reason for travel, transportation connections, how much travellers are willing to pay as well as other relevant information."

Pacific Coastal's vice-president of commercial services Spencer Smith says the service is not financially viable.

Passengers who have reservations beyond May 15 will be refunded.