New Airline Announced

TIMES COLONIST MAY 5, 2012 A new airline has plans to begin year-round scheduled service and charters out of Victoria International Airport to Bamfield and Tofino. Calgary-based Northstar Air will start offering daily flights to the west coast destinations on June 1, says spokeswoman Lucinda Santos. One-way fares to Bamfield start at $99, not including fees and taxes, while the fare to Tofino will start at $119. The company, formed by a group of Alberta investors, will operate two Super Q Islander aircraft, which hold nine passengers and are built to operate on short, unimproved airstrips such as Bamfield, said Santos. Northstar expects government approvals this week for the service and has secured check-in and hangar space at YYJ. The company also plans to start flights to Squamish and Whistler on Nov. 1. The Whistler and Tofino flights include transportation from the airports. Santos said the flights will put south Island hikers and skiers just over an hour from Long Beach and Whistler's slopes. It also offers West Coast Trail hikers a quick trip to and from the northern terminus of the trail at Bamfield - 35 minutes as opposed to six hours by road. There's information at www.northstarairtours.com