Student's killer on parole
Charges after investigation
Hostage was on captor 
Regulating power prices
Gen X is raking it in
LeBlanc laying groundwork
US vetoes UN resolution
$100M Nassar settlement
12 Trump jurors picked
Rates slow green economy
Vicinity hires president,
Record housing starts
Warriors ready for Round 2
Kalamalka Bowl cancelled
Rockets live to fight on
Rihanna's parenting ‘hack’
Tarantino scraps film
Munn talks cancer battle
Another year, another record for Kelowna's YLW.
Kelowna International Airport flew through 2014 with significantly increased traffic. A passenger count of 1,602,988 represents an increase of 98,205 travellers, or 6.53 per cent over 2013.
“Exceeding our forecasted 1.6 million passenger mark one year ahead of schedule is quite remarkable,” says airport director Sam Samaddar. “If you look back at our numbers 2007 to 2011, we stayed within the 1.3 million range, and by 2012 we grew to a passenger count of 1.4 million. After reaching 1.5 million in 2013, we were ecstatic to break through the 1.6 million milestone. It may not be long before we start talking about approaching two million travellers. This is pretty incredible.”
As one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada and third busiest in the province, YLW is one of the largest economic drivers in the Southern Interior.
“Reaching the 1.6 million passenger mark is not only an accomplishment, but an enormous economic benefit,” explains Robert Fine, director of economic development for the Central Okanagan Regional District. “With new routes added ... we become more easily accessible for investors, workforce, tourists and technology firms. Each million passengers adds one per cent to the gross domestic product of the region... We continue to be the best air served community of its size in Canada.”
With its airline partners, YLW added several new routes this past year, including WestJet service to Fort McMurray and charter operations serving the Oilsands. An extra daily flight was scheduled to Edmonton with WestJet and Air Canada introduced the Q400 to multiple destinations, increasing seat capacity. United Airlines replaced daily service from Los Angeles with seasonal flights to San Francisco. Pacific Coastal Airlines most recently commenced connections to Trail, while Air Canada Rouge will begin service this summer to Toronto.
The airport offers 66 daily non-stop commercial flights, and its busiest day of the holiday season was Dec. 28, with 7,402 passengers.
