Helijet increasing trips to Vancouver Island as pandemic restrictions ease
Posted June 4, 2020 1:28 pm.
Last Updated June 4, 2020 1:29 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Helijet will increase the number of flights between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island due to an expected rise in demand, starting Monday.
Round-trip helicopter flights between places such as Vancouver and Victoria were cut as the pandemic made travel difficult for many. They will increase to five round-trips each weekday, up from the current three, starting at 7 a.m.
The number of scheduled flights between Vancouver and Nanaimo will also double to four round-trip per weekday, starting at 7:10 a.m.
“With businesses gradually reopening, and the provincial government planning to resume sitting later this month, we’re preparing to support additional travel demand for our flights to and from Vancouver Island,” Danny Sitnam, president and CEO of Helijet, says in a release.
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“Although the entire air travel industry has been severely impacted by COVID-19, we pledged to keep operating with a reduced flight schedule as an essential service link to safely serve our communities, our dedicated guests and to keep the majority of our workforce employed. We are now in a stronger position to increase service provision as our guest numbers are anticipated to climb.”
Passengers will be limited to six in all aircraft from the usual 12.
Wearing a non-medical mask or face-covering is still required and passengers must submit to a pre-boarding health check.
In April, Canada’s Minister of Transport said anyone who is unable to demonstrate they have a necessary non-medical mask or face covering during the boarding process will not be allowed to continue on their journey.