Harbour Air acquires Pacific Coastal Airlines to form Western Canada regional carrier

Harbour Air, North America's largest seaplane airline, has entered into an agreement to acquire Pacific Coastal Airlines (PCA), forming a new regional airline group that will operate with a combined fleet of 59 aircraft and 900 employees.

Both airlines will retain their separate brands and customer bases. Harbour Air operates a seaplane network while PCA flies wheeled aircraft, allowing the combined group to serve 25 destinations across Vancouver Island, British Columbia's coast, and interior. The airlines will maintain separate operations while offering a unified loyalty program to customers.

Harbour Air, founded in 1982, and Pacific Coastal Airlines, founded in 1987, will together create what leadership describes as the leading regional airline group in Western Canada. Bert van der Stege, Harbour Air's chief executive officer, said the acquisition signals investment in the combined network and growth opportunities across B.C. communities.

The acquisition price was not disclosed. Regulatory approvals are still pending, and the timeline for the transaction to close has not yet been determined. The combined network plans to maintain current routes while exploring opportunities to provide additional connectivity for communities across the region.