1-hour seaplane service to connect downtown Vancouver, Seattle

There’s a new option for Vancouverites looking to travel to the Emerald City.

Harbour Air and Kenmore Air have partnered to offer a new seaplane service between downtown Vancouver and Seattle, taking off in about three weeks.

Harbour Air president Randy Wright said the companies will be offering two daily round-trip flights on weekdays.

“We see a great thing for tourism with links here in Coal Harbour which will be able to go to Whistler, Victoria, Nanaimo and we’re launching a new service in Tofino on May 10,” he said.

“So you have an option to fly up to Coal Harbour and then catch another flight to elsewhere in British Columbia.”

Kenmore Air already operates daily seaplane flights between Victoria and Seattle, and says it carries about 20,000 passengers a year on that route.

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B.C. Premier John Horgan hailed the move, which he said would further tie the west coast together.

“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone that will strengthen the connection between B.C. and Washington state,” said Horgan in a statement.

“Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee and I have been working hard to grow our economies, find new opportunities to expand our flourishing tech and innovation corridor, and create good jobs on both sides of the border.”

It’s the latest transportation link being pitched between the two Pacific cities, with B.C. announcing last month that it would contribute $300,000 to study a proposed high-speed rail line to connect them.

Wright said he’s not concerned about competition from a would-be rail line, with that proposal still on the drawing board.

“I’m well aware of the train proposal and I wish them the best to do that. It’s going to be a number of years to get all that through. We’ve done our research and this has been talked about for years.”

Flights on the new route will kick off April 26.