BURSTHarbour Air is set to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines, bringing the two British Columbia-based carriers under common Canadian ownership while keeping their brands and operations independent.
The airlines announced the proposed acquisition on Sept. 15, saying the deal would combine Harbour Air’s seaplane network with Pacific Coastal’s wheeled-aircraft network to expand regional connectivity across B.C.
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and the airlines did not provide a closing date.
In the meantime, Harbour Air and Pacific Coastal will continue to operate as separate airlines.
The new airline group would have a combined fleet of 59 aircraft and serve 25 communities. The companies said the group would maintain existing routes while looking for opportunities to add connections and destinations.
Vancouver is expected to become a key hub for the combined group, with expanded connections through Vancouver International Airport.
The companies said the new group would have more than 900 employees and maintain up to 300 daily flights across its network.
The airlines also said the acquisition would support investment in infrastructure, fleet renewal, maintenance capacity and technology, while creating additional opportunities for employee development.
“The creation of this new group is an exciting step for Harbour Air, its employees and for the communities we both serve,” Harbour Air CEO Bert van der Stege said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming them into the new group and investing together in building the leading regional airline group in Western Canada.”
Pacific Coastal president Quentin Smith said the acquisition would allow the airline to continue serving B.C. communities while investing in growth.
“Under new ownership, we will be able to invest in growth, maintain our brand and continue to build a stronger, better airline for the communities that count on both of us,” Smith said.
Harbour Air currently operates up to 200 daily flights to 13 destinations from hubs in Vancouver and Victoria.
Pacific Coastal operates from Vancouver International Airport’s South Terminal and serves 19 destinations in B.C. It also provides charter and cargo services across B.C. and Western Canada.
The companies said combining their networks could improve year-round reliability by bringing together float and wheeled aircraft operations, while providing passengers with additional airline partnerships and connections through Vancouver.