As travel continues to increase and we move towards further recovery from the pandemic, Canadian airlines have been announcing new and increasing air service to Kelowna International  Airport (YLW) from destinations across the country. 

The most recent announcements regarding air service to YLW include:

  • WestJet will increase its non-stop service from between Toronto and Kelowna to three times per week for the holiday season (December 17, 2021, to January 5, 2022). 
  • Flair Airlines will be adding two new routes—Vancouver to Kelowna and Victoria to Kelowna—to its schedule in spring 2022. 

These announcements come on the heels of Air Canada's launch of a new, non-stop flight between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and YLW that kicked off in early July. The route is now flying into YLW once a week, departing Montreal on Saturdays. Domestic service to YLW is also provided by Swoop, Pacific Coastal, and other smaller, regional airlines.

“Re-establishing strong air service connections is integral to the recovery and growth of our tourism economy,” says Tourism Kelowna President & CEO, Lisanne Ballantyne. “These additional flights are welcome additions to YLW, encouraging increased leisure and business travel through the fall, winter, and beyond.”

Travellers can rest assured that safety continues to be 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 where volunteers are onsite throughout the week. 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:

Starting October 30, 2021, all Canadians aged 12 and up who are travelling for domestic or international flights will have to be fully vaccinated. There will be a one-month transition period, from October 30 to November 29, where those who are not yet fully vaccinated can provide a valid COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of travel.