Access to opportunity

The new daily air access between Cranbrook and Kelowna puts the two communities just one hour apart

(L to R) Sam Samadar, GM of Kelowna International Airport (YLW); Jenelle Hynes, airport marketing and media relations for YLW; and Tristen Chernove, GM of Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, B.C. — Marie Milner photo

“There’s nothing more exciting for people in the travel industry than to have new routes and new destinations to work on,” said Tristen Chernove, managing director at Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, B.C. “To be a catalyst for economic change and to create new economic opportunity, the first thing that’s needed is access.”

Creating the link

As of November 19, 2013, Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA) is providing that access between Cranbrook and Kelowna on a daily basis. Previously, the Cranbrook-Kelowna trip by air or by road took a minimum of six hours each way. Now, it takes 45 minutes.

“For years, Pacific Coastal has been an amazing partner to many small communities throughout B.C.,” said Chernove. “The changes that will result from this added service will be more to do with the interplay of business and travel and tourism between our communities than with changes at the airport.”

Setting the direction

The launch of the Cranbrook-Kelowna route took place over three days of relationship building for government, tourism and business sectors. This included travelling the new route and brainstorming about opportunities available for both communities, and resulted in shared purpose and direction.

PCA will sponsor another meeting of the economic sectors in six months, enabling them to review their progress, refresh their vision and adjust their goals. Frequent meetings of the sectors will ensure achievement of economic goals and success of the air connection.

“I’m delighted to see that this is a real partnership among the communities of the East Kootenay, the airline, the airport and tourism,” Chernove said. “It’s invigorating to be involved in fostering and building those kinds of relationships. It’s the way of the future—we can only succeed if we stand together.”

Making it work

Chernove said he’s pleased to see that families as well as businesses are taking advantage of the Cranbrook-Kelowna connection, and that the connection simplifies the maintenance of personal relationships among residents of the two regions. However, there’s a lot more work to be done.

“I’m not aware of a single-point packaged-vacation vendor in the East Kootenay that can sell air travel, car rental and accommodation as one package,” said Chernove. “That needs to change. Business, education and travel and tourism have begun a conversation about making that type of packaging possible.”

The fact is, Okanagan wine country and big-city amenities are now just an hour away from Cranbrook, and the great East Kootenay outdoors is just an hour away from Kelowna. Pacific Coastal Airlines has minimized the six-hour journey to a quick and easy commute.