Kelowna Airport still closed during the day, night-time hours expanded

The travel ban to most areas of the Okanagan has been lifted, but getting here by air is still proving to be a challenge.

“It is a day to day discussion with Transport Canada and the B.C. Wildfire Service making sure, first and foremost, they have access to the airspace to fight the fires and do the suppression efforts they need,” City of Kelowna Chief Administrative Officer Doug Gilchrist said at a media conference in Kelowna. “The second priority — and it’s a high priority — is to get our airport back open.”

The airport has been providing commercial flights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and, as of today that is being extended to 8:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. to allow more planes to get into YLW.

Airlines are putting in extra flights to help passengers travel to/from Kelowna. These flights could still be impacted by weather conditions at the airport, such as smoke.

Passengers are asked to check with their airline for updated information about flight status before coming to the airport.