Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton says Penticton will not be deterred by the Monday decision by WestJet not to land in the South Okanagan

“This does not change the overwhelming demand for increased air service from Penticton, particularly a direct route to Alberta,” said Ashton. “Personal and business travellers have expressed loud and clear the desire for a Calgary connection, and the business case supports that link. We are confident that WestJet has Penticton on its radar when they expand their regional carrier in the years to come.”

Currently more than 50 per cent of the local market uses Kelowna International Airport to fly to Vancouver and Calgary.

Air Canada announced in December that the national airline would add a fourth daily non-stop flight from Penticton. A City of Penticton delegation flew to Montreal in November to meet with Air Canada officials about the level of air service in the South Okanagan, and the potential opportunities for expanded offerings. The airline currently provides three daily flights from Penticton to Vancouver Monday through Saturday, with two flights on Sundays. The additional daily Vancouver-to-Penticton service is scheduled to start May 1, 2013.

In 2011, Penticton Airport served approximately 80,000 passengers; however, market analysis identified that the total air travel market is more than 210,000 annual passengers – sufficient to support an additional daily flight to Vancouver and two daily flights to Calgary.