UPDATE Nov. 3 7:30 p.m.
Air Canada Jazz and WestJet night flights are once again landing at the Penticton airport, according to the Air Canada website and Westjet flight tracker.
Oct. 31 – Original story:
Transport Canada says it’s the height of the trees near the runway at Penticton’s airport that is causing the major carriers to stop flying there at night.
Neither Air Canada nor West Jet is currently flying into or out of the Penticton Regional Airport at night. A spokesperson from West Jet said the change was made for safety reasons “out of an abundance of caution.”
The change comes after an audit found trees at either end of the runway were too tall. Adjustments were made to make sure planes could safely clear the trees but this has also effectively shortened the length of the runway that aircraft are able to use.
As a result, the two major carriers are not using the airport overnight till the problem is solved.
“Transport Canada, as the airport operator, is committed to resolving this issue, and we are working with the land owners and air operators to do so as quickly as possible,” said Transport Canada spokesperson Natasha Gauthier in a statement.
– with files from Neetu Garcha