Harbour Air to buy Pacific Coastal, creating 25-destination airline group

Harbour Air is expanding its footprint in Western Canada with plans to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines, bringing two long-standing British Columbia carriers together under a new regional airline group.

The deal, announced Tuesday (Sept. 15), will combine Harbour Air’s fleet of 40 float planes with Pacific Coastal Airlines’ 19 wheeled aircraft, creating a network serving 25 destinations.

Both privately owned airlines trace their roots to Richmond, B.C., in the 1980s. Harbour Air says the acquisition will keep both companies under Canadian ownership, while maintaining their individual brands and supporting the growth of local jobs.

Together, the carriers will employ approximately 900 people and operate as many as 300 flights per day. Harbour Air says the larger organization will also provide employees with greater opportunities for career development.

For travellers, the company says combining the two operations will strengthen regional connectivity and help the airlines better navigate operational disruptions caused by poor weather.

The new group will also continue serving remote communities that rely on regional air links.

Harbour Air CEO Bert van der Stege said the company looks forward to building “the leading regional airline group in Western Canada” alongside Pacific Coastal.

“The creation of this new group is an exciting step for Harbour Air, its employees and for the communities we both serve,” stated van der Stege. “We have a long-standing and deep respect for Pacific Coastal Airlines, for their role as a B.C. regional airline, and their employees, who have powered the airline for 40 years.”

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The deal remains subject to regulatory approval, with no closing date announced. Until then, the two companies will continue operating independently.

Travellers with existing bookings should not expect any immediate changes.

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