Local governments haven't had much discussion with Transport Canada lately regarding takeover of airport operations, as plans for further expansion get underway in early September.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

Air Canada is ending its service to Penticton airport.

Penticton mayor Julius Bloomfield expressed his disappointment in Air Canada’s choice, but he is hopeful the airport will still provide good service to travellers.

Air Canada has yet to make a statement about why it decided to end flights to and from Penticton.

Bloomfield says it isn’t because of a lack of demand.

READ MORE: WestJet to start flying from Penticton to Vancouver.

“We know there is a demand for service from Penticton to Vancouver, as anyone who has caught the morning flight will tell you,” Bloomfield said in a release.

Richard Cannings, MP for South Okanagan - West Kootenay says Air Canada informed him on the details of its decision. 

"I learned from Air Canada executives yesterday that they will be pulling out of Penticton as of January 15," Cannings said on X (formerly Twitter).

Cannings said this is a setback for Penticton to maintain usable air service away from Kelowna.

"This is a bad decision on so many levels. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy when you reduce service, force more people to fly out of Kelowna, reduce service, repeat," he says.

“We will work with Travel Penticton, the Chamber of Commerce and other airlines to ensure our community remains well served and that YYF continues to connect the South Okanagan to the rest of the world,” Bloomfield said.

Penticton officials are confident they will be able to work with other airlines to compensate for the demand filled by Air Canada.

“The future is full of blue skies, the airport will remain a key player in keeping our region connected,” Bloomfield said.

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