The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing another airline to suspend select operations out of YXS.
Central Mountain Air (CMA) has announced certain routes will be suspended between Feb. 3 and May 3, including two Prince George flights.
- Fort Nelson to Prince George - Feb. 3 to May 3 (at the earliest)
- Kamloops to Prince George - Feb. 3 to April 5 (at the earliest)
- Edmonton to High Level - Feb. 3 to May 3 (at the earliest)
- Edmonton has a charter base with an opportunity for ad hoc charter requests
- Vancouver to Kamloops (will begin April 5, two times weekly)
“Devastating declines in travel and extended provincial health advisories against non-essential travel have necessitated a significant scaling back of our scheduled operations for the foreseeable future,” CMA CEO Bob Cummings said in a news release.
"The federal government has been promising for almost a year that help is on the way to support these essential air services, but no such support has been received or clearly outlined.
"Our customers and the communities we serve are bearing the brunt of this inaction.
"In addition to supporting the local economies with the transport of essential workers, our airline and its dedicated staff fly customers to medical treatments and transport medical supplies, mail, and other vital cargo."
The company operated the routes in March and April with one short suspension while sustaining losses due to the pandemic.
"For more than ten months, CMA leadership has sought to engage the federal government in support of airports and airlines, particularly in more remote areas," the release added.
"However, the promised necessary financial support has not materialized.
"At this time, without direct government support to assist in maintaining operations until demand resumes, CMA can no longer continue the provision of these essential air services."
CMA is asking the community to contact their MLA, MO, Premier or the federal minister of transport, saying government support is essential to keeping the airline in operation.
According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), the following flights involving Prince George have been flagged for COVID-19 exposure:
- March 5 = Air Canada flight 8209 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows nine to 15
- March 12 = Central Mountain Air flight 9M728 from Prince George to Kelowna - rows not reported
- March 15 = Central Mountain Air flight 9M725 from Kelowna to Prince George - rows not reported
- Aug. 21 = Air Canada flight 8212 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows six to 12
- Aug. 24 = Flair Air flight 8711 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows 26 to 32
- Aug. 24 = Flair Air flight 8711 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 26 to 32
- Oct. 13 = Flair Air flight 8187 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 10 to 16
- Oct. 18 = Air Canada flight 8209 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows eight to 14
- Oct. 18 = Flair Air flight 8186 from Edmonton to Prince George - rows two to six
- Oct. 22 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows three to nine
- Oct. 31 = Flair Airlines flight 8186 from Edmonton to Prince George - rows not reported
- Nov. 2 = Flair Airlines flight 8187 from Prince George to Edmonton - rows 26 to 32
- Nov. 10 = Air Canada flight 8201 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows one to seven
- Nov. 23 = WestJet flight 3297 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
- Nov. 24 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
- Nov. 24 = WestJet light 3277 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
- Nov. 24 = WestJet flight 3282 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
- Nov. 26 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows not reported
- Nov. 27 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows not reported
- Dec. 16 = Air Canada/Jazz flight 8208 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows 14 to 20
- Dec. 16 = WestJet flight 3290 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows 16-19
- Dec. 18 = WestJet flight 3287 from Vancouver to Prince George – rows 15 -19
- Dec. 18 = Air Canada/Jazz flight 8208 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows one to four
- Dec. 19 = WestJet flight 3290 flight from Prince George to Vancouver - rows four to 10
- Dec. 26 = Air Canada flight 8213 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows seven to 13
- Dec. 30 = WestJet flight 3277 from Vancouver to Prince George - rows 13 to 19
- Dec. 31 = Flair Airlines flight 8712 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows 13 to 19
- Jan. 1 = WestJet flight 3282 from Prince George to Vancouver - rows three to nine
