Direct flights to Toronto return this summer

Leisure and business travellers will again be able to fly non-stop to Toronto this summer.

The Air Canada Rouge seasonal flights will resume on June 29, connecting Nanaimo Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport. They will boost Vancouver Island’s vital tourism sector and make it easier for Islanders to visit and host family and friends from Eastern Canada and the rest of the world. The flights also serve the region’s business community.

Three flights per week are planned, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They’ll run throughout the summer.

“Air Canada is a valued partner that supports out commitment to being the Central Island’s gateway to the world and an economic catalyst for the region,” says Dave Devana, President and CEO of Nanaimo Airport Commission.

“Air Canada sees the value in continuing to invest in this route, which has been on our schedule for several years now. The Island is a popular destination and its growing population will create an increasing demand for air travel as people look to safely reconnect with family and friends.”

Air access to Vancouver Island is a critical component for the long-term recovery of the tourism industry in our region. It’s also essential to the economy, creating and supporting jobs and attracting investment.

The direct flights to Toronto, and the connecting flights from there, put domestic destinations, business markets and employment opportunities within easy reach. The non-stop routes takes between 4.5 and five hours.

Travellers will fly aboard an Airbus 319. It’s a member of the Airbus A320 family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger twin-engine jet airliners.

Even with relaxed travel restrictions, the airport and its airline partners will retain enhanced safety measures to help ensure passenger safety. Travellers are urged to review Transport Canada travel requirements to help prepare for their flights.

More information on COVID protocols, and on-site testing available at Nanaimo Airport, can be found at Ycd.ca.