by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 11:55 AM ET, Thu September 17, 2026
Harbour Air has entered an agreement to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines in a move that will form the “leading regional airline group in Western Canada.”
“The creation of this new group is an exciting step for Harbour Air, its employees and for the communities we both serve,” says Bert van der Stege, Chief Executive Officer of Harbour Air. “We have a long standing and deep respect for Pacific Coastal Airlines, for their role as a B.C. regional airline and their employees who have powered the airline for 40 years. We look forward to welcoming them into the new group and investing together in building the leading regional airline group in Western Canada.”
By joining Harbour Air’s fleet of float planes with PCA’s wheeled craft fleet, the group — which will continue to operate as two brands — will serve a wide area of the West Coast, with Vancouver serving as its hub.
The group will provide service to 25 communities aboard 59 craft, and aims to strengthen Vancouver's role as a key hub for regional and global travel, while providing enhanced access to airline partnerships and onward connections through Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The group also has plans to enhance loyalty program benefits, and provide more opportunities for affordable travel through an “expanded low-fare offering” across the network.
“Since 1987, Pacific Coastal Airlines has been proud to connect communities across B.C. and through merging with Harbour Air, we will be able to deliver even more for our guests, employees and the communities we serve,” said Quentin Smith, President of PCA. “We are joining an airline that has long served B.C. communities and with a shared culture of service. 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.”
In a statement to press, the airlines reiterated their commitment to B.C., including maintaining up to 300 daily flights with a more “competitive platform to support growth, community investment and environmental stewardship.”
They also noted that the merger will offer “enhanced ability to manage weather events and various operational challenges with the group's all-season, weather-resilient network.”
The transaction is subject to regulatory approval; the expected close date and timeframe are still to be confirmed. In the interim, PCA and Harbour Air will continue to operate as two separate and independent airlines.
Topics From This Article to Explore
