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Pacific Coastal reinstates cancelled flights

Company listened to North Island concerns
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FACEBOOK PHOTO/ Pacific Coastal Airlines Pacific Coastal will be reinstating the early morning and late afternoon flights in Port Hardy

Pacific Coastal Airlines has reinstated its cancelled early morning and late afternoon flights in Port Hardy.

The airline announced the return of the flights in a Feb.1 press release, which details Pacific Coastal’s spring schedule.

“Of particular interest to North Island residents, the Spring Schedule will see the return of flights 8P800 and 8P813, the early morning and later afternoon flights to/from the Port Hardy Airport (YZT),” the release states.

Early in January the airline announced they would be cutting the flights as of Feb.2 because they were unable to recoup the cost of operations because of the historically low passenger numbers.

RELATED: RDMW pens letter asking pacific Coastal to reconsider cancellations

The decision sparked concern from many residents in the North Island, including the Port McNeill and District Chamber of Commerce and the Regional District of Mount Waddington, both of which campaigned for the airline to review its decision.

“We listened to what the community had to say and we have reacted to that”, said Kevin Boothroyd, Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Director of Business Development and Corporate Communications, in the release.

Pacific Coastal will still be reducing certain flights in the market, but will be maintaining the early morning and late afternoon flights.

“Based on the level of demand there is still a need to reduce capacity from three return weekday flights to two and this schedule adjustment maintains same day business schedule between the Port Hardy Airport (YZT) and Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal (YVR),” the press release explains.

This means the mid-day flights during the week have been cancelled in favour of the early morning and late afternoon flights. The changes, which are a part of Pacific Coastal’s spring schedule, will be in effect from March 4 to June 3, 2018.

The new schedule is currently available for booking on Pacific Coastal’s website.