Harbour Air has reached an agreement to purchase Pacific Coastal Airlines, the regional carrier providing direct flights between Masset and Vancouver.
The two B.C.-based airlines announced the deal Sept. 15, saying they plan to create a new regional airline group combining Harbour Air’s seaplane network with Pacific Coastal’s wheeled aircraft operations.
For Haida Gwaii travellers, there are no immediate changes.
Pacific Coastal currently operates direct service between Masset Airport and Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal. The companies said existing routes will be maintained and Pacific Coastal will continue operating under its own name.
Pacific Coastal has also told passengers that existing bookings will not be affected and flights will continue as scheduled while the deal moves through the approval process. The airline will retain its own air operator certificate and operating team.
The acquisition still requires regulatory approval. Until the deal closes, Harbour Air and Pacific Coastal will continue operating as separate, independent airlines.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
If approved, the combined airline group would operate 59 aircraft serving 25 communities. Harbour Air said Vancouver would become a major hub for the combined network, with the company looking at additional connections between regional services and other airlines operating through Vancouver International Airport.
A new partnership announced by Pacific Coastal Sept. 23 has already expanded some of those connecting options.
Pacific Coastal has launched a bilateral interline agreement with Air Canada, allowing passengers on eligible itineraries to combine Pacific Coastal and Air Canada flights on a single ticket.
The agreement includes connections with Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express. Passengers travelling on eligible itineraries can check in at their first departure point and receive boarding passes for their connecting flights.
For Haida Gwaii travellers, that means eligible trips originating in Masset can now be booked with an onward Air Canada connection as part of the same itinerary.
The interline itineraries can currently be booked through Air Canada, travel agencies and online travel agencies. They are not yet available through Pacific Coastal’s website or call centre.
Pacific Coastal president Quentin Smith called the Air Canada agreement a significant milestone for the airline, saying it would make it easier for passengers in B.C. communities to travel beyond the province while also improving access for visitors, businesses and families.
The companies involved in the proposed Harbour Air acquisition have also said they plan a combined loyalty program and additional airline partnerships through Vancouver.
Pacific Coastal serves 19 destinations in B.C. from its Vancouver South Terminal base and provides scheduled passenger, charter and cargo service. Its Masset route is one of the primary air links between northern Haida Gwaii and the Lower Mainland.
Air Canada currently provides the other direct scheduled Vancouver connection to Haida Gwaii through K’il Kun Sandspit Airport.
Harbour Air operates seaplane and wheeled aircraft routes primarily around the south coast of B.C. and Vancouver Island. The company said the acquisition would give the new group a combined workforce of more than 900 employees and up to 300 flights per day.
Harbour Air CEO Bert van der Stege said the company plans to invest in Pacific Coastal while building what he described as a leading regional airline group in Western Canada.
Pacific Coastal president Quentin Smith said the airline would maintain its brand under the new ownership and continue investing in service to the communities that depend on it.
No date has been announced for completion of the sale.