Chilliwack Airport celebrates growth with Cascadia Airways, daily flights to 6 B.C. destinations

Atkins explained that with Cascadia Airways, the airport is now able to provide flights to Abbotsford, Pitt Meadows, Vancouver, Campbell River, Tofino and Penticton.

Atkins is also optimistic about other carriers becoming a part of Chilliwack Airport in the future.

“The airport needed to be rehabilitated. We needed to come into compliance with Transport Canada, which we have done,” Atkins said. “And now we can provide a professional service and airport to any provider that wishes to come by and utilize this space.”

The general manager called Cascadia a “great fit” with a “great” business plan for growth, which included Chilliwack.

“We’re getting a lot of phone calls inquiring about their flights,” Atkins said.

He further illustrated how Cascadia Airways became “crucial” to Chilliwack in Nov. 2021, when the city had floods, and the freeway, and all the other transportation routes were closed, making Chilliwack airport the only transportation route, in and out of Chilliwack.

“Cascadia was flying constantly in and out with doctors, nurses, and police officers, who all had to attend different areas up and down the valley,” he said. “It became a crucial part of the transportation link for Chilliwack, and I think that really made an impression on us on how they could handle that situation during that emergency.”

Atkins’ hope is that, at some point, the airport will be busy enough to create full-time employment.

Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove was thrilled to be a part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, officially welcoming Cascadia Airways.

Mayor Popove said, “Tourism is a big part of our growing community, and we are very excited about this new way to bring visitors to and from Chilliwack.”

by Laurice Gomes

Chilliwack Airport celebrates growth with Cascadia Airways, daily flights to 6 B.C. destinations

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