The City of Campbell River Airport (YBL) is welcoming WestJet to the community.
The airline was officially welcomed at a ceremony at the local airport on Monday, Feb. 9. The event began with a land acknowledgement and a performance by Wei Wai Kum First Nation drummers and dancers, followed by remarks from Chief Chris Roberts.
At the ceremony, it was announced that WestJet will begin seasonal service between Campbell River and Calgary starting in the spring. WestJet’s new route will operate daily beginning May 15, offering connections between YBL and Calgary International Airport’s hub, with onward access to destinations across North America and beyond.
Plans call for four trips each way per week from May until October, with daily flights through the peak summer season on a 78 seat aircraft.
Airport manager Dennis Brodie said the service will help connect Campbell River to the rest of the world and will be great for the local tourism sector.
Dennis Brodie comments:
“This area of the island is highly attractive to our north American and international tourists,” Brodie said. “It’s a natural expansion for people to come in, as well as those who reside in the area who need to travel to other parts of the world.”
WestJet senior manager of airport affairs and hub strategy Chris White-DeVries said the airline has been considering Campbell River for some time.
Chris White-DeVries comments:
“We’ve looked at the route for a number of years,” White-DeVries said. “Coming out of COVID, we’re starting to see more of a shift into different regions, more domestic travel.”
A statement from the city said flights bound for Campbell River will depart Calgary at 11:15 a.m. MDT with a local landing time of 12:25 p.m. PDT. Outbound flights will depart YBL at 1 p.m. PDT and arrive in Calgary at 4 p.m. MDT.
Credit: Wylie Henderson
Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl was unable to attend the ceremony, but issued a statement welcoming the new service.
“We’re thrilled to welcome WestJet to Campbell River to deliver a seasonal service from Calgary to Campbell River in 2026. This new route to a major travel hub is a significant milestone in growing the City of Campbell River Airport (YBL) and strengthening air service to and from Campbell River,” Dahl said. “It offers enhanced connectivity to other regions for residents, businesses and visitors, which also supports the community’s economy, growth and livability. Campbell River continues to grow as a destination, and transportation investments such as this open up exciting new travel options and show confidence in the community and the opportunities here.”
Credit: Wylie Henderson
The first flight will land in Campbell River on May 15.
