Olympic obstacle hits local seaplanes

Sean McIntyre (Gulf Islands Driftwood) writes:

Security requirements will pose some major hurdles for seaplane companies serving the Gulf Islands during the 2010 Winter Olympics, local airline reps said Tuesday. Restrictions on the airspace in and around Vancouver mean all passengers will have to clear security before being allowed to land at any of the city’s airports or seaplane terminals. Since Salt Spring has no established security facilities, all passengers departing from Ganges Harbour will have to pass through a security check point in Nanaimo while en route to Vancouver. According to Philip Reece, director of marketing for Salt Spring Air, the detour will make the 24-minute one-way trip twice as long. Restrictions will be in place between January and March of 2010.

Reece said Salt Spring Air does not intend to increase prices on its routes to make up for the extra expenses.

Randy Wright, senior vice-president of marketing and communications for Harbour Air, said his company is considering its options. Seair owner Peter Clarke, on the other hand, said he anticipates no changes in the level or quality of service to his passengers. “It will be a big pain, but we are planning on digesting most of the costs to maintain uninterrupted service,” he said.

[Note from Island Blog - there's no news yet on how this will affect Tofino Air flights to and from Gabriola.]

Low passenger volume and increasing competition has forced Richmond-based Harbour Air to suspend all flights between the Gulf Islands and Vancouver International Airport. The airline continues to operate flights between the Gulf Islands and downtown Vancouver. Daily service from the Gulf Islands to the Vancouver International Airport’s seaplane terminal is available on Salt Spring Air and Seair flights.