Effective Dec. 24, Helijet International will expand its service to include weekend flights between Nanaimo and Vancouver. Helijet currently offers six roundtrips each day between its Nanaimo Harbour Heliport and Vancouver Harbour locations.
The expanded service will see Helijet offer three roundtrips a day on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Since starting service to Nanaimo and the mid-island, we’ve had many conversations with business and leisure travellers about weekend service,” said Rick Hill, Helijet vice-president of commercial and business programs. “Our Vancouver Island and our Lower Mainland customers have all said they would welcome the addition of weekend service.
“When we looked at how our traffic has increased since entering the Nanaimo market and at how positive the feedback has been to our superior service and reliability, we felt now was a good time to expand to a seven-day-a-week operation.”
“I have had many requests for weekend service from many differing groups,” said Scott Speakman, manager, sales and community relations, Nanaimo-Mid-Island. “Resident commuters, business people and leisure commuters all see value in this offering. Whether it’s having to make an important business meeting, taking the family to a concert, sporting events or just shopping, they told us that having a reliable service available on weekends is very important. We are pleased to be able to provide that service.”
To celebrate the occasion, Helijet is offering fares starting at just $79 on all flights from Dec. 19 through to Jan. 3, 2017. Additionally, children 12 and under fly free when travelling with a paying adult, which makes this Christmas and New Year’s season one of the merriest times of the year to experience all that Helijet has to offer.
Last week, Helijet also announced the expansion of the Nanaimo heliport. By providing additional capacity the heliport can now accommodate British Columbia’s Air Ambulance helicopters with its 7/24 emergency air service requirements, and support emergency patient air transfers to and from the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s proximity.
“The expansion of the Nanaimo heliport is another example of our commitment to serve Vancouver Island communities,” said Hill. “On behalf of Helijet, I want to thank the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the Nanaimo Port Authority and the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for making that heliport improvement project possible.”
