Boundary Bay Airport is embarking on a new chapter later this month as a commercial airline gets ready for take off.
Starting on March 31, Island Express Air will operate flights between Boundary Bay and Victoria.
"We're all excited," said Katherine Mesho, who supervises the airport's customer service staff.
Island Express is based in Abbotsford and also has operations in Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver and Tofino.
Passengers flying out of Boundary Bay will be able to connect in Victoria for flights to Nanaimo year round and Tofino in the summer.
Airport manager Tim Bain said the addition of commercial flights at Boundary Bay has long been a goal for Alpha Aviation, which operates the municipally-owned airport.
"It's always been our goal since we built the terminal three years ago," he said.
Bain said Alpha Aviation is also looking at bringing in more commercial flights in the future.
For now, Island Express Air will run two flights a day, seven days a week.
Owner Gerry Visser said the new service offers people living south of the Fraser River another option and a way to avoid having to drive through the tunnel to get to Vancouver International Airport or Coal Harbour to catch a seaplane.
"We've had a call for it from people," he said. "People want another option other than driving through the tunnel."
Visser said with the free parking, quick check-in and a 15-minute flight to Vancouver Island, passengers flying out of Boundary Bay could be landing in Victoria a mere 30 minutes after parking their car.
Flights departing from Boundary Bay bound for Victoria will take off a 7:10 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. Monday through Friday, while flights from Victoria will arrive at the local airport at 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Weekend flights leave an hour later at 8:10 and 9 a.m., respectively.
For more information on the service, visit www.islandexpressair.com.
