Harbour Air launches direct flights from Vancouver to Butchart Gardens
Floatplane operator Harbour Air will offer direct flights this summer from downtown Vancouver to Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, landing its seaplanes in a remote cove behind the historic horticultural attraction.
The B.C.-based company announced the plan Tuesday, with tickets for a roundtrip flight and two-hour garden tour starting at $499 for passengers aged 12 years and older and $299 for children.
Billed as a premium service, the airline says the tour package will offer "unparalleled access to the breathtaking floral displays and serene landscapes of this world-famous attraction."
The flights will be available Wednesday to Sunday, from June 12 until Sept. 15. Passengers will depart from Harbour Air's downtown Vancouver seaplane terminal and disembark at a wharf in Butchart Cove off the Saanich Inlet.
In a joint statement from both companies Tuesday, Butchart Gardens CEO Dave Cowen said the new service will give visitors "a uniquely Canadian way to enjoy our spectacular British Columbia coastline and our world-famous show garden in a one-of-a-kind experience."
His Harbour Air counterpart said the plan marks a "significant milestone" for the floatplane carrier as it works to appeal to experience-seekers across the Pacific Northwest.
"We are thrilled to collaborate with the Butchart Gardens to offer our guests a seamless and unforgettable journey, melding the excitement of seaplane travel with the enchantment of one of Canada’s most beloved destinations," Harbour Air CEO Bert van der Stege said.
B.C. Tourism Minister Lana Popham called the announcement "an exciting pairing of two iconic tourism experiences," adding "we can't wait to welcome more people to the Saanich Peninsula and showcase all we have to offer."
The announcement comes one week after Harbour Air signed a letter of intent to buy 50 electric engines for its aircraft, calling the purchase agreement a signal of its commitment to environmentally sustainable aviation.
Harbour Air is North America's largest seaplane airline, with a fleet of 45 aircraft offering up to 300 scheduled and private flights daily between Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Seattle and elsewhere around the region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
Forecast turns favourable in fight against wildfire threatening northern B.C. town
A low-pressure system moving into northern British Columbia is expected to dampen wildfire activity that has forced several thousand people to flee their homes in and around Fort Nelson, the BC Wildfire Service says.
New study shows financial impact of homelessness on our health-care system
A new study out of London, Ont. lays out the cost of the homelessness crisis on our health-care system.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Evacuees concerned over conflicting information on Fort Nelson wildfire
Evacuees staying in Fort St. John have expressed concern about how little they are hearing about what is happening in their now deserted city.
Insurance claims skyrocket and tensions remain high after slew of natural disasters
According to new data released by Statistics Canada, the cost of catastrophic insurance claims in Canada between 1983 and 2008 was $400 million each year.