Nearly 80 per cent of respondents to a recent survey indicated they expect to fly with Iskwew Air, if the airline launches service between Qualicum Beach and Vancouver.
The airline surveyed participants during a virtual community engagement session held on June 2 and also found 88 per cent of people are willing to use air travel again for leisure once COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted.
One third of respondents said they would take the flight at least four times per year, while 29 per cent said they would fly one to three times in a year. Thirteen per cent would take the flight weekly and 17 per cent monthly.
The COVID-19 pandemic limited demand for air travel, but Iskwew has been airlifting essential goods and services into Indigenous communities, Teara Fraser, founder and lead executive, said during the engagement session. It also offers charter travel services for essential purposes, according to Fraser, who said she is hopeful about B.C.’s restart plan but did not say when the new route could begin.
Iskwew Air began operations in October 2019 and is based out of Vancouver. It operates a twin engine PA31 Piper Navajo Chieftain called the Sweetgrass Warrior. Iskwew (ISS-KWAY-YO) is a Cree word that means woman.
