As the global COVID-19 pandemic carries on, airlines and airports across the country, including Kelowna International Airport (YLW), continue to work hard and adhere to stringent protocols so staff and those with essential travel needs stay safe.

While non-essential travel is not currently recommended, opportunities for business and other essential travel, as well as future leisure travel, will expand when Air Canada launches a new, non-stop flight between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and YLW this summer, with the first flight arrive to Kelowna on July 1. 

“Strong air service connections are essential to our tourism economy,” says Tourism Kelowna President & CEO, Lisanne Ballantyne. “This new Air Canada flight is a welcome addition to YLW and will encourage business and leisure travellers from the Montreal market to include the Central Okanagan in their itineraries throughout the year.”

The flight from Montreal to Kelowna on the new A220 aircraft will be offered four times a week, Thursday to Sunday, with the return flight from Kelowna to Montreal offered Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The flights departing Montreal are timed to connect to North-Eastern US as well as Atlantic Canada and Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport.

In addition to Air Canada, service to YLW for domestic travel from various destinations is also provided by WestJet, Swoop, Flair, Pacific Coastal, and other smaller, regional airlines.

Travellers can rest assured that safety is a top priority at YLW, where a variety of measures have been introduced for arrivals and departures from the airport. These measures include directional and physical distancing signage, increased sanitization of high-touch areas, a requirement to wear a mask or face coverings when inside the terminal, and more.

Individuals arriving at YLW can access information about Kelowna and area at our YLW Information Kiosk—while volunteers are onsite a few days a week, we now also have a Google Nest doorbell that links people directly to our team at the Kelowna Visitor Centre, who are available seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT. There is also a touchscreen that allows arriving travellers to explore our website and online retail store before they leave YLW, as well as a selection of brochures and copies of our Official Visitors' Guide that they can take with them as they set out to explore Kelowna. 

For more information about the measures Canadian airlines are taking to keep travellers safe, visit the following links: