Harbour Air is honoured to be named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the 13th overall year. This also marks the company’s seventh consecutive year maintaining the prestigious status as a Platinum Club Member. The award program recognizes overall business performance and winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian-owned and managed companies. Harbour Air was recognized thanks to its continued dedication to innovation, strategy, sustainability, culture and industry leadership.
“To be recognize and celebrated for the quality of our team and service is an incredible honour” said Randy Wright, Harbour Air President. “One of our core principles is to create a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Our growth and success is in large part contributed to our outstanding team committed to delivering on that promise every single day.”
Now in its 29th year, Canada’s Best Managed Companies remains one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing Canadian-owned and managed companies for innovative, world-class business practices. Applicants are evaluated by an independent judging panel comprised of representatives from program sponsors in addition to special guest judges. 2022 Best Managed companies share commonalities that include (but are not limited to) putting their people and culture at the forefront, focusing on their ESG strategies, and doubling down on accelerated digitization.
“This year’s Best Managed winners displayed courage, resourcefulness, and creativity as they explored new avenues for advancement,” said Lorrie King, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader Canada’s Best Managed Companies Program “We’re extremely proud to recognize their impressive achievements in such a rapidly changing business world. Their successes demonstrate the importance of strong leadership and forethought in driving long-term growth.”
2022 winners of the Canada’s Best Managed Companies award will be honoured at galas across the country. The Best Managed virtual symposium will address leading-edge business issues that are key to the success of today’s business leaders. The Best Managed program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce, and TMX Group.
Fly Between Seattle and Vancouver In Under An Hour
Travel across the border in under one hour with direct flights between downtown Vancouver and downtown Seattle!
Connecting downtown-to-downtown in under one hour allows passengers to travel quickly, easily, and conveniently between Seattle and Vancouver, saving hours in driving and traditional airport travel time. Border control will be available upon landing for efficient processing, allowing travellers to maximize their time across the border.
Our downtown Vancouver terminal is located in Coal Harbour right along Vancouver’s iconic seawall, and just steps from Canada Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre and the downtown core. More info including maps, hours and amenities can be seen here. Our Seattle terminal, shared with Kenmore Air, is situated at the south end of Lake Union, and provides a central destination for exploring the city. More info including maps, hours and amenities can be seen here.
Book ahead and lock in the lowest rates of the season. Find select flights between Downtown Vancouver and Seattle starting at $199. Limited quantities available
DAILY FLIGHT SCHEDULE
| Departure Location | Scheduled Flight Times | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Vancouver | 12:30 pm | 55 min |
| Seattle | 2:05 pm | 55 min |
Of course, we’re always here to talk so if you need more information or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly reservations agents at 1.800.665.0212 or click here to book now!
Fuel Surcharge Notice
Due to the ongoing surge in fuel prices, Harbour Air will be implementing a fuel surcharge on all fares effective Monday, March 28. Please rest assured this is a temporary measure being implemented to cover operational costs.
This surcharge will apply to all new bookings including confirmed travel, and standby travel. Additionally, any new purchases of pre-paid quick tickets, and on-account quick tickets will include a Fuel Surcharge on the base fare.
Although Harbour Air continues to work hard to reduce its consumption of fuels, the intention of having this charge as a separate expense is to ensure that when fuel prices return to baseline, it can be eliminated. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
Terms and Conditions
- Fuel surcharges will only be applied to flights booked on March 28th onwards
- Any pre-existing reservation (booked prior to March 28th), that changes on or after March 28th will be subject to the new fuel surcharge
- This surcharge will be evaluated regularly and may be adjusted to align with any changes in fuel prices
Spring Savings to Adventure Destinations
You have lots of places to be, things to do and people to see this summer. We have planes, pilots, and plenty of solutions to make it all happen! To help you explore more of the best of coastal B.C., we are offering some of our very best fares on our seasonal Tofino, Sechelt, and Powell River Routes.
The ocean beckons…nothing says experiencing Tofino like a local then hitting the waves with a board. If your skills don’t quite match that of the pros, it’s time to head to school (that’s surf school of course). Local surf shops such as Tofino Surf School, Pacific Surf School and Surf Sister offer lessons for all skill levels. If surfing isn’t your thing, you can still make a splash! Explore the calm inlet waters of Clayoquot Sound by booking a whale watching or bear watching experience with Tofino Resort & Marina.
Once you’ve worked up a hunger, there’s no shortage of equally trendy and tasty spots. Finer dining restaurants like The Wolf and the Fog and 1909 kitchen offer up mouth-watering tastes of the west-coast. If you’re after a quick bite to continue taking in the sights, grab a bowl from Shed or famous fish taco from Tacofino, and head back to the beach to take in a jaw-dropping sunset.
Home to breathtaking mountains, crystal blue lakes and nature at every turn, a trip to Whistler is this summer’s ultimate lift ticket. The mountain village with a vibe, within moments of arriving in Whistler Village prepare to be immersed in the West Coast alpine culture. Packed into the pedestrian-only streets of the village are dozens of trendy shops, restaurants, and bars, all with a beautiful mountain backdrop of course!
No trip to Whistler is complete, without soaking up the nature outdoors! Hiking in the Whistler valley is a must, with ancient glaciers, alpine lakes, wildflower-filled meadows, and an expansive network of trails for all skill levels! For a family-friendly favorite, try the 5 km Lost Lake Hike. To opt for a more adrenaline-racing experience, head to ZipTrek Eco Tours and experience the longest zipline in North America with over 2km of spectacular views at 7,000 feet.
To get even higher, hop aboard our Alpine Lake Landing Tour for a true bucket-list experience! Take in jutting alpine peaks and hanging blue glaciers from above, before landing on a remote alpine lake. Could we dream of a better picnic spot?
A quaint waterfront gem with laid-back charm, the seaside town of Sechelt is the perfect spot for a coastal getaway. Home to plenty of local shops, cafes and restaurants – a visit to Cowrie Street is in order, the perfect place to pick up one-of-a kind jewellery, vintage finds and craft lattes alike. To fully embrace the arts scene, head out on the Sunshine Coast’s Purple Banner Tour, a self-directed studio and gallery tour, with 11 stops in Sechelt.
With 35 kms of shoreline, lush trees and mountain vistas, there are no shortage of outdoor explorations to be had. Stop at the Basting Baker, a foodie favourite, with gourmet coffees and delicious baked goods and take your sweet treats to Davis Bay Beach to take in the salty air and seaside sights (Tip: the sunset views here are remarkable to say the least). Located just outside of Sechelt, Chapman Falls or Burnett Falls are two beautiful hikes with impressive waterfall views.
The perfect stop to embrace coastal bliss, Powell River is an adventurer’s paradise home to endless outdoor explorations, historic culture and eclectic cafes and restaurants. While the town of Powell River has plenty to explore, it also acts as a terrific gateway to exploring other Northern Coastal towns and the beautiful Discovery Islands.
Experience marine life and head out onto the waters with Powell River Kayaking, a must-do item is one of their tours into Desolation Sound. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, after a long day of paddling stay at the Cabana Desolation Eco-Resort, their all-inclusive eco resort located in the heart of Desolation Sound.
Home to endless hiking trails for every level, a family favorite is the Willingdon Beach Trail which tells the tales of the history of Powell River through an array of interesting logging artifacts and info-boards along the walk. For avid hikers, a bucket-list item is The Sunshine Coast Trail, the longest hut-to-hut hiking route in Canada with 180 km of pure wilderness bliss.
A full day of adventure deserves a proper send-off. For those who enjoy brews, no visit to Powell River is complete without a stop at Townsite Brewing (They won the first annual best brewery experience award, and for good reason!). Located in a federal building rich with history and with a Belgian Brewmaster at the helms, a flight or a pint is never a bad choice. Cheers to that.
There’s no place like the west coast of B.C.! No matter the type of travel you’re looking for, you’re bound to find a memorable adventure while you’re here. The only question you will find yourself asking is where to next?
New Expanded Service to Tofino
Everybody wants to get there, no one wants to drive there! Let us help! New direct flights between downtown Victoria and Tofino and additional capacity on flights between downtown Vancouver and Tofino. Both routes get you there over the traffic and in under an hour.
This scenic flight offers jaw-dropping views of the Clayoquot Sound and Pacific Rim National Park and is sure to make travelling to/from Tofino a highlight of your trip.
Daily Flight Schedule
Flights between Victoria Harbour and Tofino Harbour start June 2 and will be offered Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
| Victoria to Tofino | Tofino to Victoria |
| Departs 12:30 PM | Departs 2:00 PM |
Flights between downtown Vancouver and Tofino Harbour return March 18 and will be offered twice daily (beginning April 4).
| Vancouver to Tofino | Tofino to Vancouver |
| Departs 11:30 AM | Departs 1:00 PM |
| Starting April 4: Departs 3:30 PM |
Starting April 4: Departs 5:00 PM |
Of course, we’re always here to talk so if you need more information or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly reservations agents at 1.800.665.0212 or click here to book now!
New Powell River Seaplane Service Launches March 7!
Exploring the Northern Sunshine Coast has never been easier! Starting March 7, Harbour Air is launching direct flights between downtown Vancouver and Powell River. This exciting new service will feature flights twice daily landing on the stunning Powell Lake, located just 10-minutes from the city Centre of Powell River.
Daily Flight Schedule
| Vancouver to Powell River | Powell River to Vancouver |
| Flight #1501: Departs 8:20 am | Flight #1502: Departs 9:25 am |
| Flight #1507: Departs 4:10 pm | Flight #1508: Departs 5:15 pm |
Powell River is an adventurer’s paradise and is home to endless outdoor explorations, historic culture and eclectic cafes and restaurants.
The perfect stop to embrace coastal bliss and be one with nature, Powell River also acts as a terrific gateway to explore other Northern Coastal towns such as Lund and Saltery Bay, and some of the beautiful Discovery Islands including Savary, Quadra, and Cortes.
“Harbour Air was built on offering a safe, fast and convenient way to get around the coast.” Says Greg McDougall, Founder and CEO of Harbour Air. “By introducing this new flight we are excited that we will save our guests multiple ferry trips and hours of travel time.”
Of course, we’re always here to talk so if you need more information or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly reservations agents at 1.800.665.0212 or click here to book now!
Exciting ePlane Buzz for 2022
Happy Holidays to our loyal ePlane followers!
As promised, we wanted to provide another update before the end of the year to let you know what’s happening with our electric plane project. It’s been all systems a go in Santa’s Hangar as we keep plugging along on this project. Although a lot of what is happening right now is on the regulatory side of the project, up until the first week of December we were still performing regular test flights and measuring all data. In fact, we have completed over 30 test flights and have determined the power settings for the magniX motor best suited for our installation. We are planning on investigating glide performance next.
Unfortunately, the aircraft is due for its annual inspection so it is coming offline next week for approximately 2-3 weeks. During this time the usual inspections will occur, but we will also be able to collect additional data on how the motor and battery systems have performed thus far. Not great timing but with the short days and dark skies, we would prefer to do the inspections now so that when …sometimes lately we think ‘if’… the sun does decide to show up, we will be all ready to go!
While this plane continues to be tested, we thought it the best time to get moving on what we think we do best <drum roll please > building another plane!
Yes, on the 2nd anniversary of our first flight, we wanted to let you all know first, that ePlane #2 is in the works!
In fact, our next prototype aircraft, C-FIFQ, is actually already in the hangar! The aircraft has been stripped, all powerplant and fuel systems as well as all subsystems have been removed and the airframe is undergoing alterations to prepare it for conversion. The new prototype will be our certification validation aircraft, following the design used on our proof-of-concept prototype closely as the performance achieved was beyond expectations. This aircraft will remain within existing approved gross weight and centre of gravity ranges. Given the excellent performance so far, we have decided to move forward with a Hartzell and their 4-blade raptor composite propeller (Hartzell Propellers) . This is a prototype propeller and will be undergoing its own certification program concurrently. We decided on this particular propeller because it optimises the balance between improved performance and reduced noise. Investigation of the propeller governor and throttle control system is ongoing. We are designing it to include a reversing system for ground operations on this aircraft. We are also excited to let you know that magniX has made progress with their certification program, including gaining agreement from the FAA to classify their electric propulsion system as an aircraft engine. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has also issued a Special Condition paper that will allow them to certify their system as an aircraft engine under FAA Aviation Regulation 14 CFR Part 33. This program is being run concurrently with Transport Canada, who is working on their own Special Condition paper to allow the same pathway to certification in Canada. Our battery partner, H55 has a pathway to certification with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, however we are investigating what that looks like with Transport Canada as it is a path that has not been walked before. Preliminary meetings have been held with Transport Canada, who adopted the performance-based rules of FAA Aviation Regulation FAR 23 amendment 64 this fall, providing us the basis of certification necessary to approve this conversion.
Although you are all the first to know, we will be posting pictures of C-FIFQ on our Harbour Air Aerospace Facebook and Instagram pages so please follow us and let us know what you think! We do try to monitor our social media pages closely and our team will respond to any questions, ideas or feedback you have. We love to hear it all and sometimes knowing how many eyes are on the project keep us just a little more focused on keeping up with all that paper work.
Thank you all and from our team to your, we hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. We appreciate all of your encouragement and support and look forward to providing more updates in 2022!
ePlane Update
Dear ePlane followers,
On behalf of the ePlane team over here at Harbour Air, we wanted to thank you again for joining us on our quest to get the first fully electric plane certified for commercial use in Canada. As we hadn’t reached out to you all since our announcement regarding our partnership with H55 back in April, we thought it was time to give a bit of an update about what we’ve been doing.
Testing..Testing… Testing…
We are closing in on 30 test flights performed, continuing to evaluate take-off, climb, cruise, range and endurance performance. Although Greg is still our main test pilot, we have also welcomed Eric Barry, another Harbour Air flight crew member to the test team. Greg and Eric split performing these flights at various power settings to simulate different magniX motors in order to accurately size the motor for the certification design. Regrettably, we have had a small setback in our flight testing – our charging station is undergoing repairs/maintenance and thus we are delayed. As the charging process is unique to this project because in addition to the charging station it requires a separate external component with tailored software to communicate with the plane, this isn’t a simple repair or replacement but we do hope to have it back up and running by mid-September.
Transport Canada continues to be great partners on the project with us and we have submitted some of the project’s preliminary documentation. For all you industry buffs out there, this includes our plan to use the new amendment 64 to CAR 523 when it is adopted later this year. For all none industry buffs, this simply means that we are working on agreement with Transport Canada as to the best path to obtain certification of the electric conversion.
Along with our partners at magniX and H55, we have completed our Preliminary Design Review (PDR) on the design iteration for certification. As previously mentioned, after flights at various power settings we have decided to move forward with the magni350 EPU for our certification version of the aircraft. We are also reviewing the propeller design to determine if any further efficiencies or performance improvements can be made although we are extremely satisfied with the current performance.
Formula E Championship
As some of you may have heard, Vancouver has won the bid to host the Formula E championship event on July 2nd, 2022 ABB Formula E Vancouver and we couldn’t be more excited! We hope to have the ePlane ready to be showcased to the world and will continue to keep you all updated on what that will mean for our loyal ePlane followers. More details coming soon….
We are always here to answer any further questions that you have and will work hard to be better at sending more regular updates. If interested, please find links to recent media coverage here:
All Electric And All At Sea
Electrifying Caravans and Beavers
Beaver vs Goliath
Again, thank you all for your interest, support and most importantly, enthusiasm in our project.
Greg and Harbour Air’s ePlane Team
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