A private floatplane airline company has applied to construct a 30-metre plane dock, ramp, small wharfhead and four temporary parking stalls at the Oceanfront Lands.
“Harbour Air hopes to connect Squamish with direct flights between downtown Vancouver and Victoria terminals,” says Daren Clark, Whistler Base Manager and Training Captain for Harbour Air Group.
Private charter flights will also be available. The company hopes to be able to begin service by 2021.
The ramp the company has applied for will be located at the south-eastern edge of the property at the entrance to the Mamquam Blind Channel.
The proposal is being reviewed by district staff.
“We are looking forward to supporting the community’s ongoing development and helping to welcome travellers, commuters and adventures alike to the ‘Adventure Capital of Canada’,” Clark says.
While initially the plan is to provide service between Squamish and Vancouver and Whistler, the company hopes to add more routes and increase frequency with time.
Harbour Air currently operates 16 scheduled service routes in Canada. In 2018, it added flights between downtown Vancouver and Seattle.
With its Squamish location, local customers will also be able to connect to destinations such as Seattle or Tofino in less than two hours, Clark says.
Harbour Air Group started operations in 1982 and consists of Harbour Air Seaplanes, Whistler Air and Saltspring Air.
In December 2019, Harbour Air flew the world’s first all-electric commercial flight. The company is now working with regulators to achieve certifications and hopes to convert their entire fleet to become the world’s first all-electric airline.
Flights between downtown Vancouver and Squamish would be the ideal range for such an aircraft, says Clark.
Makhan says
This is good project. I got this service around 80 when road was washed out then 92 the highway washed again.
Francine says
A great choice and addition to our valley transportation options and has been long regarded as a quick way to get to Vancouver or the Island.
Totally make sense to offer the service.
Anne says
Flights from Nanaimo would be good too please – so those of us from the Mid-Island can go as well.
Jesse says
Flights to Comox airport too please!
Bryan Lewis says
Area where they plan to build their dock is in a recreational area – Newport Beach.
I’m thinking aircraft operations & recreational water users are not a good mix.
Maybe farther down the channel?
Gerald Dempsey says
Nice thing for the town. But there is a lot of boat traffic and kiteboarders that use the area. As well as chop and waves most windy days. How about using the airport or the unused ferry dock at Shannon Falls.