Web News • 1 July 2022 • Thanks to CW
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Tag: Comox YQQ
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New budget airline to bring tourism boost, jobs to Comox Valley
Web News • 9 June 2022 • Thanks to CW
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Swoop takes off from Comox with new non-stop service to Edmonton
The ultra-not-expensive airline takes their summer expansion west, celebrating its first flight from Comox, BC to Edmonton, AB
COMOX, BC, June 9, 2022 /CNW/ – Today, Swoop, Canada’s leading ultra-low-cost airline, launched its inaugural flight to Comox Valley Airport (YQQ) from Edmonton International Airport (YEG). Swoop flight WO 217 landed in Comox at 7:55 a.m. local time, adding another B.C. destination to its network.
“As Canada’s leading ultra-low fare airline, we are thrilled to continue our network expansion in beautiful British Columbia, promoting tourism and stimulating economic growth in Comox,” said Ryan Hubbard, Senior Manager, Airports at Swoop. “Demand for summer travel across Canada is soaring and we’re proud to support communities, both large and small, with ultra-affordable fares.”
Swoop’s new service to Comox is a welcome addition to the airline’s long-standing presence across British Columbia. In addition to today’s new route to Comox, Swoop also offers service to Victoria, Abbotsford, and Kelowna.
“The ability for the residents of the Comox Valley to explore the world and for visitors from around the world to explore the Comox Valley continues to grow,” said Mayor Russ Arnot. “The arrival of Swoop Airline further demonstrates the highly desirable destination that the Comox Valley is. As we exit the global COVID-19 pandemic the ability to connect in person with families and friends will add great joy to our residents.”
With introductory fares from Edmonton to Comox starting at just $49 CAD†, Swoop is showing Canadians just how affordable travel can be this summer.
Route Start Date Peak Weekly Frequency One-way total price (CAD) Base Fare (CAD) Taxes & Fees (CAD) Edmonton to Comox June 9, 2022 4x weekly $49 $0.59 $44.45 Comox to Edmonton June 9, 2022 4x weekly $59 $40.12 $14.93 Additional Quotes
“The Comox Valley Airport is very happy to see Swoop Airlines support economic recovery in our region with the addition of new service from Edmonton,” said Mike Atkins, CEO Comox Valley Airport. “The ultra-low cost point to point carrier arrives just in time to for summer leisure travel and will be a boon to our tourism sector.”
“The Chamber is thrilled to welcome Swoop to the Comox Valley. What a terrific opportunity this service will bring towards rebuilding economic recovery, particularly for the tourism sector,” said Dianne Hawkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The Comox Valley has a strong tie to Alberta, especially since the first commencement of WestJet service over 20 years ago. This additional service will help to provide affordable connectivity for families and businesses with our neighbouring province. We are looking forward to seeing the first flight in June. All the best to Swoop and team in this new venture!”
To learn more about Swoop and for flight schedules and bookings, please visit FlySwoop.com. For information on how Swoop is ensuring a safe and healthy travel experience visit FlySwoop.com/traveller-safety.
About Swoop
Swoop is on a mission to make travel more affordable and accessible for all Canadians. Established in 2018 as an independent subsidiary of the WestJet Group of Companies, Swoop is Canada’s ultra-not-expensive airline. Offering scheduled service to destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean, Swoop’s unbundled fares put travellers in control of purchasing only the products and services they desire.
Swoop’s fleet of ten Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft will grow to 16 with the addition of six Boeing MAX-8 in 2022. At FlySwoop.com travellers can quickly and easily book flights, manage bookings, check-in, view boarding passes, track flights and access Wi-Fi service in-flight.
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Swoop taking off into Comox
Web News • 9 June 2022 • Thanks to CW
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Comox Valley Airport welcomes new Flair, Swoop services in 2022; over 400,000 passengers in 2019
Web News • 22 April 2022 • Thanks to CW
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Hercules bound for Comox as procurement issues leave Vancouver Island short on planes
Web News • 5 May 2022 • Thanks to CW
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The Comox Valley Airport is happy to announce increased service to Vancouver on Air Canada Express
May 2, 2022, Comox BC • Thanks to CW
On Monday, May 2nd, Air Canada increased frequency to and from Comox (YQQ) with additional Air Canada Express service connections via Vancouver Airport (YVR).
“The return of 3 x daily Air Canada service with crew overnighting in Comox provides the essential connections our region has been waiting for since the start of the pandemic. By adding an early morning departure and an inbound evening flight, passengers have options to travel nearly anywhere in the world in a day. Increased choice is always welcome news, and further signals a cautious return to a more normal travel experience,” said Airport CEO Mike Atkins.
With Flair Airline’s service to Calgary and Edmonton, Swoop’s soon to start service to Edmonton, and the return of a full summer schedule from WestJet, including the popular non-stop service to Toronto, Comox’s options for safe and affordable travel just keep growing. We look forward to speeding you on your journey through YQQ!
About Comox Valley Airport Commission
The Comox Valley Airport Commission (CVAC) is a federally incorporated, non-profit entity, established through letters patent in 1996. The nine-member Commission is broadly representative of the Comox Valley community and its members are nominated by the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, the Village of Cumberland, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.
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YQQ welcomes the recent Federal Governments announcement on the easing of travel restrictions and advisories
Thanks to CW
February 17, 2022 – Comox Valley Airport (YQQ)
The Comox Valley Airport welcomes the recent Federal Government of Canada announcement on the easing of travel restrictions and advisories, viewing it as a step forward towards normalizing travel for Canadians. As of February 28th, the Government will no longer recommend against non-essential travel, great news for Canadians considering Spring Break and other leisure travel options. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers returning to Canada will see a reduction in random testing, and those selected for testing will no longer have to quarantine while they await results. Travellers will also have the more convenient and affordable option of providing a rapid antigen test for pre-entry requirements when they return.
“We welcome this news and look forward to a more normal travel experience this summer, as the Comox Airport continues to be well served by competitive airfares, and great connectivity” said airport CEO Mike Atkins. “The recovery of air service and continued support of our legacy national and regional carriers, and the arrival of new Ultra Low Cost (ULC) Flair Airlines next month and Swoop Airlines in June will help speed tourism recovery while continuing to serve the travel needs of our growing region”.
While this announcement provides some hope of relief from some of the most onerous barriers to air travel in the world, the news that the Comox Valley Airport can once again welcome International Flights came too late for WestJet’s Puerto Vallarta Winter service. “It is truly disappointing to know that this inexplicable wait has resulted in additional travel time and expense for our passengers wanting to fly internationally,” said Atkins. “With no explanation of why the Comox Valley Airport remained restricted to international flights while airports across Canada were allowed to re-open, the winter service to Puerto Vallarta has been lost for the season.”
For more information on the changes and requirements for domestic and international travel, see the Government of Canada’s website: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid.
The Comox Valley Airport Commission (CVAC) is a federally incorporated, non-profit entity, established through letters patent in 1996 as the governing authority for the operation of the Comox Valley Airport.
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Comox Valley Airport looking for passenger numbers to take off in 2022
From the Comox Valley Record – link to source story🔗 – thanks to CW
A plane on the tarmac at the Comox Valley Airport. Photo by Comox Valley Airport Pandemic restrictions impacting numbers; ULCs could provide a boost for travellers out of YQQ
ERIN HALUSCHAK, Comox Valley Record | January 18, 2022
The Comox Valley Airport is hoping for smooth skies for the months ahead following an increase in passenger traffic over the holidays but a dropoff during the first month of the new year.
Mike Atkins, the CEO for YQQ said passenger numbers for 2021 were at about 65 per cent of pre-pandemic numbers to close out the year. A twist for the airport came on Dec. 15 when Canadians were advised to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada due to the risk of the Omicron variant.
“Since the New Year, we’ve seen a drop off in numbers. People who already had travel plans pushed on for Christmas, but into January, it has been quite slow,” noted Atkins.
While many airports across the country delayed or cancelled flights due to significant winter weather or staffing issues, Atkins said flight ran smoothly throughout the holidays season, thanks to the “incredible” assistance from 19 Wing Comox who kept the runways clear through multiple snow events.
“Regardless of (the weather), the airport never shut down. We only lost one flight due to a challenge with a de-icing truck. We did a lot of shoveling and salting on the aprons and there haven’t been any real weather issues.”
With ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines set to begin operations out of Comox on March 29 and WestJet’s ULC Swoop Airlines set to begin on June 9, Atkins explained recent renovations to the south end of the terminal building should be complete by the end of March.
Once completed, the terminal will have a new security area and expanded hold room, something he says is even more crucial as passengers maintain social distancing regulations.
In late 2021, the Comox Valley Airport board of directors asked Comox council for support to appeal to the federal government to reinstate the airport’s international designation, in order to resume direct seasonal WestJet flight from Comox to Puerto Vallarta.
Atkins said the decision has been delayed and added other airports in the province such as Victoria and Kelowna have received their international designation.
“It’s frustrating (for travellers) as they’ve had their flights rebooked through Calgary.”
Overall, he said delays in recovery are taking longer than anticipated but estimates it will take about two years to increase passenger numbers to what they were pre-pandemic. With the Comox Valley as a preferred summer destination domestically, Atkins said he is hopeful by the summer YQQ will be busy again with a tourism boom.
“With the arrival of Flair and Swoop and summer weather, it’s exciting to see what will happen in our market.”
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PCR, antigen tests now available at Comox Valley Airport
From Comox Valley Record – link to source story🔗 – thanks to CW
Travellers will no longer have to book an appointment in Nanaimo for PCR test
ERIN HALUSCHAK | January 17, 2022
The Comox Valley Airport is making flying internationally a little bit easier for those in the North Island, with the addition of an on-site COVID testing lab.
The testing facility, operated by Connectus Global, will provide both PCR and rapid antigen test kits at a cost and is set to open at 8 a.m. on Jan. 19.
Up until now, the closest location for travellers who require a PCR test for travelling is to book an appointment at a facility in Nanaimo.
Appointments can either be scheduled online using the Connectus Global clinic booking tool accessed via the Comox Valley Airport’s website or travellers can stop in to book in person at the testing location in the terminal, located near the main arrivals door beside the baggage pick-up area.
“The health and safety of our passengers, visitors and employees have been our top priority since the start of the pandemic,” said Mike Atkins, the CEO of the airport. “We think that testing will be here for the foreseeable future and asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is one additional measure to support safe air travel and our local community.”
PCR test costs vary depending on the time needed for results. For results within 48 hours, the cost is $175; for next day results, the test cost is $250 and tests with same-day results (by midnight) cost $375.
Because the lab is located at the airport, travellers will not have to worry about transportation delays in order to receive their results. Information will be entered into the Connectus Global database and results will be sent by email based on the selected timeline.
Individuals will receive a digital health passport via their handheld device or tablet for display to border officials, air carriers or governing agencies to provide confirmation of test results at the appropriate stage of travelling.
Tests are also available for anyone wishing to use them as an additional measure to prevent potential spread or peace of mind.
Rapid antigen test kits are also available for take-home use for $25 and can be purchased at Mid-Island Gifts, airport vending machines or at the Connectus collection site in the terminal.
Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday and hours may be expanded to meet demand.
For more information, visit comoxvalleyaiport.com.
