The South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors would like to set the record straight regarding the Kelowna Airport Shuttle. The Board has determined that the best way to meet the needs of South Okanagan resident and tourists is an efficient cost-effective shuttle service from Osoyoos to Kelowna International Airport with strategic intermittent stops to include the communities of Oliver, Okanagan Falls, Kaleden, Penticton including the Penticton Airport, Summerland, Peachland and West Kelowna with a return scheduled service.

Chamber President Holly Plante says, “Our goal is, and always has been, that both major airports (Penticton and Kelowna) thrive. Collaboration for this proposed shuttle service is the key ingredient to making our region more accessible for locals and visitors. All regional stakeholders are invited to participate in this process. Our intention was never to leave anyone out of this process. We are in the early discovery stages of this process and as we continue we will ensure this is an inclusive and collaborative process.”

The Chamber’s Board will proceed with a meeting with all interested stakeholders from the aforementioned communities to establish the scope and scale of their needs and interests. If deemed required by the majority of stakeholders, the Board supports the commissioning of an independent study by qualified professionals to advance this initiative.

Earlier:

Two BC Conservative candidates in the South Okanagan have come out against a plan to provide a bus service to Kelowna International Airport at the expense of Penticton Regional Airport.

Mischa Popoff, running in Boundary-Similkameen, and Sean Upshaw running in Penticton say the plan by the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce would draw business away from Penticton Regional Airport which needs all the business it can get.

“Penticton is the natural airport for the South Okanagan,” said Popoff. “Feeding traffic up the valley to Kelowna will hurt local efforts to expand air service locally.”

According to reports, “key stakeholders” have been included in “extensive discussion,” and further that all of these stakeholders “appear very committed to making this happen.” However, the manager of Penticton airport, the one most affected, has not been contacted.