A new service at Trail Regional Airport (YZZ) has already demonstrated its value following the heavy snowstorm that blanketed the city and surrounding area on Friday.
Launched the same day and officially announced Monday by Pacific Coastal Airlines, the Trail Shuttle Service provides a dedicated ground transportation option for travellers between the West Kootenay and Vancouver when winter weather disrupts flights.
Kootenay-Monashee MLA Steve Morissette was among the first passengers to benefit from the new service.
“I was on that first bus ride yesterday evening and was very thankful for it," Morissette shared on LinkedIn.
"The bus arrived about 20 minutes after we landed in Penticton, we boarded and headed home."
The service connects YZZ and Penticton Regional Airport, ensuring reliable travel despite winter’s unpredictable conditions.
Coun. Thea Hanson, chair of the Trail Regional Airport Committee, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its importance in keeping flights on schedule.
“This solution not only ensures service continuity during challenging weather conditions but also reinforces our commitment to reliability and passenger confidence,” Hanson told the Trail Times. “By bridging the gap and keeping travellers on the move, the Trail Regional Airport continues to set the standard as the most dependable air service hub in the West Kootenay.”
Coun. Paul Butler, Alternate Chair of the committee, echoed her enthusiasm, highlighting Pacific Coastal Airlines’ dedication to the city and its airport.
“By connecting travellers to flights at Penticton Airport during inclement weather, we are reaffirming our commitment to quality, safety, and reliability, ensuring a seamless experience for the travelling public,” Butler said.
“It’s onward and upward at the Trail airport as we continue to build on our commitment to improving air service and accessibility for the region.”
How It works
Pacific Coastal Airlines closely monitors daily weather forecasts.
From Oct. 1 to March 31, if poor weather is expected in Trail, the airline will designate a “Trail Shuttle Day.”
On these days, passengers will receive early notification by 9:30 a.m., allowing them to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
This flight-and-shuttle combination ensures uninterrupted connectivity between Vancouver and Trail, even when flights cannot land at YZZ due to adverse conditions.
Schedule
Departing from Trail (YZZ):
• Passengers must arrive at the Trail airport by 11:15 a.m.
• The shuttle departs at noon, arriving at the Penticton airport by 4:30 p.m.
• From there, passengers connect to a Pacific Coastal Airlines flight to Vancouver.
Departing from Vancouver (YVR):
• Passengers originating from Vancouver, or an earlier connecting point (i.e. Victoria), will be accommodated on flights arriving at the Penticton airport.
• The Trail shuttle will depart from Penticton airport at 5 p.m. and the estimated arrival time of the shuttle at the Trail airport is 9:30 p.m.
Don Nutini, board member of the Trail Regional Airport Committee, called the service a “game changer” for the region.
“The introduction of this new shuttle service during the winter months is a game changer, greatly improving the reliability of our regional airport, particularly in the face of challenging mountainous terrain and winter inversion conditions,” he said.
Since the City of Trail reacquired the airport from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary in 2014 for $1.28 million, significant investments have been made to modernize the facility, largely through federal and provincial grants.
In recent years, Trail Regional Airport has received over $4.8 million in ACAP funding for key safety projects, including: rehabilitation of airside pavement; installation of a runway condition reporting system; and replacement of a snowplow truck and runway sweeper.
Additionally, the airport’s first dedicated terminal, completed in 2017, was funded by a $1.2 million provincial grant, with the City of Trail contributing $2.2 million.
Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Vice President of Commercial, Johnathan Richardson, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to reliable service.
“The Trail Shuttle Service reflects our ongoing commitment to providing consistent and reliable travel options for the West Kootenay communities,” he said.
“This initiative is part of our broader efforts to improve service dependability, even when weather conditions pose challenges.”
By mitigating weather-related travel disruptions, the Trail Shuttle Service aims to support residents, businesses, and tourism in the West Kootenay, reinforcing Pacific Coastal Airlines’ commitment to dependable air travel.
For details, visit www.pacificcoastal.com/trail-shuttle.
